Novel organic anion transport proteins

ABSTRACT

The current invention discloses nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for novel organic anion transfer proteins (“OATPs”). The invention encompasses the OATPs described herein, together with vectors containing the cDNA sequences, host cells containing the vectors and polypeptides having all or part of an OATP. Also encompasses are uses for OATPs for targeting drugs to specific organs and for modulating the concentration of endogenous substrates.

[0001] This application claims priority from provisional U.S. Application Serial No. 60/135,081, filed May 20, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention claims isolated nucleic acid encoding all or a portion of novel members of the organic anion transport protein (“OATP”) designated OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4 and OATP-RP5. Also claimed are vectors containing the nucleic acid sequences, host cells containing the vectors and polypeptides having all or part of the amino acid sequence of OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4 and OATP-RP5. Tissue expression of the transporter is described as well as some of its substrates. Also claimed are uses for these novel OATPs, including for targeting drugs to specific tissues, for modulating the concentration of endogenous substrates, and for identifying a substrate capable of being transported by a novel OATP of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The liver functions in the clearance of a large variety of metabolic products, drugs and other xenobiotics by transporting them across the sinusoidal membrane into the hepatocyte. Several classes of transport systems have been described that mediate these processes including the Na+/taurocholate cotransporter polypeptide, NTCP, in rat and human liver (Hagenbuch, B., et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10629-33; Hagenbuch, B. et al., (1994) J. Clin. Invest. 93:1326-31) and a family of organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) that are principally expressed in liver, kidney and brain, and transport a broad spectrum of substrates in a sodium-independent manner (Meier, P. J., et al., (1997) Hepatology 26:1667-77; Wolkoff, A. W., (1996) Semin. Liver Dis. 16:121-127). The distribution of this latter family of transporters in liver, kidney and choroid plexus in the brain is thought to reflect common physiological requirements of these organs for the clearance of a multitide of organic anions. There are three OATP isoforms in the rat: roatp1 (Jacquemin, E., et al., (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:133-37); roatp2 (Noe, B. A., et al., (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:10346-50; and roatp3 (Abe, T., et al., (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273:11395-401). In addition to bile acids, OATPs are known to transport a variety of other compounds. These include, depending on the transporter, unconjugated and conjugated steroids such as estrone sulfate, estradiol-17B-glucuronide, aldosterone, and cardiac glycosides (Boussuyt, X., et al., (1996) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 276:891-6; Boussuyt, X. (1996) J. Hepatol. 25:733-8; Kanai, N., et al., (1996) Am. J. Physiol. 270:F319-F325; Kanai, N., et al., (1996) Am. J. Physiol. 270:F326-F331; Noe, B. A., et al., (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:10346-50). Bromosulfophthalien (Jacquemin, E., et al., (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:133-7); mycotoxin (Kontaxi, M., et al., (1996) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 279:1507-13); leukotriene C₄ (Li, L., et al., (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273:16184-91); and thyroid hormone (Abe, T., et al., (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273:11395) are additional substrates.

[0004] Several proteins have been identified. Jacquemin, E., et al., (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 91:133-137 reported the first cloning and identification of a member of the OATP transporter family, namely the rat oatp1. The first cloning and identification of a human OATP was reported in Kullak-Ublick, G. A., et al., (1995) Gastroenterology, 109:1274-1282. Its expression was found in liver, kidney brain and other organs. The authors concluded, based on substrate specificities, that it was not the human orthologue of rat oatp 1.

[0005] Substrate specificities of rat oatp1 are discussed in Kullak-Ublick, G. A. et al., (1994) Hepatology, 20:411-416, while substrate specificities of human OATP are discussed in Bossuyt, X., et al., (1996) J. Hepatol., 25:733-738.

[0006] Data was later discovered showing that rat oatp1 is involved in the transport of steroids (Bossuyt, X., et al., (1996) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 276:891-896), and that human OATP acts as a transporter for the psychoactive hormone DHEAS (Kullak-Ublick, G. A., et al., (1998) FEBS Lett., 424:173-176). For a review of the OATP family and organic anoin transport in the liver, see Wolkoff, A. W., (1996) Semin. Liver Dis., 16:121-127.

[0007] A third rat OATP isoform that was shown to transport thyroid hormones T3 and T4 was cloned and reported in Abe, T., et al., (1998) J. Biol. Chem., 273:22395-22401.

[0008] All references cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention encompasses novel organic anion transport proteins (“OATP”) and polynucleotides encoding said OATPs. The OATPs disclosed herein are designated OATP2, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4, OATP-RP5 and OATP-RP 1. A polynucleotide sequence of each OATP is disclosed herein, along with the deduced amino acid sequence. The cDNAs encoding the OATPs of the present invention have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection and given Accession Numbers ATCC 207213 (OATP2), ATCC 207212 (OATP-RP2), ATCC 207209 (OATP-RP3), ATCC 207210 (OATP-RP4), ATCC 207211 (OATP-RP5), and ATCC 207214 (OATP-RP1).

[0010] The present inventors sequenced the cDNAs encoding the novel OATPs and determined the primary sequence of the deduced proteins. Disclosed herein are the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) of OATP2; the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) of OATP-RP2; the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) of OATP-RP3; the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) of OATP-RP4; the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:9) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) of OATP-RP5; and the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:11) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12) of OATP-RP1.

[0011] The OATPs of the present invention can be produced by: (1) inserting the cDNA of a disclosed OATP into an appropriate expression vector; (2) transfecting the expression vector into an appropriate transfection host(s); (3) growing the transfected host(s) in appropriate culture media; and (4) assaying the transport activity in the transfected cells.

[0012] The present invention therefore provides a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule, preferably a DNA molecule, having a sequence which codes for an OATP, or an oligonucleotide fragment of the nucleic acid molecule which is unique to an OATP of the invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule has the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 (OATP2). In another preferred embodiment, the purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule has the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 (OATP-RP2). In still another preferred embodiment the purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule has the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:5 (OATP-RP3). In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:7 (OATP-RP4). In still another preferred embodiment the purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule has the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:9 (OATP-RP5). In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:11 (OATP-RP1).

[0013] The invention also contemplates a double stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of the invention or an oligonucleotide fragment thereof hydrogen bonded to a complementary nucleotide base sequence.

[0014] The terms “isolated and purified nucleic acid”, “isolated and purified polynucleotide”, “substantially pure nucleic acid”, and “substantially pure polynucleotide”, e.g., substantially pure DNA, refer to a nucleic acid molecule which is one or both of the following: (1) not immediately contiguous with either one or both of the sequences, e.g., coding sequences, with which it is immediately contiguous (i.e., one at the 5′ end and one at the 3′end) in the naturally occurring genome of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived; or (2) which is substantially free of a nucleic acid sequence with which it occurs in the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. The term includes, for example, a recombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector, e.g., into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote, or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g., a cDNA or a genomic DNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease treatment) independent of other DNA sequences. Substantially pure or isolated and purified DNA also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional OATP sequence.

[0015] The present invention provides in one embodiment: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding all or a portion of a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 (OATP2); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences which exhibit at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0016] The degree of homology (percent sequence identity) between two sequences may be determined, for example, by comparing the two sequences using computer programs commonly employed for this purpose. One suitable program is the GAP computer program described by Devereux et al., (1984) Nucl. Acids Res. 12:387. The GAP program utilizes the alignment method of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:433, as revised by Smith and Waterman (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482. Briefly, the GAP program defines percent identity as the number of aligned symbols (i.e., nucleotides or amino acids) which are identical, divided by the total number of symbols in the shorter of the two sequences.

[0017] As used herein the term “stringent conditions” encompasses conditions known in the art under which a nucleotide sequence will hybridize to: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown herein, or to (b) a nucleic acid sequence complementary to (a). Screening polynucleotides under stringent conditions may be carried out according to the method described in Nature, 313:402-404 (1985). Polynucleotide sequences capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions with the polynucleotides of the present invention may be, for example, allelic variants of the disclosed DNA sequences, or may be derived from other sources. General techniques of nucleic acid hybridization are disclosed by Sambrook et al., “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1984); and by Haymes et al., “Nucleic Acid Hybridization: A Practical Approach”, IRL Press, Washington, D.C. (1985), which references are incorporated herein by reference.

[0018] The present invention provides in another embodiment: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding all or a portion of a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4 (OATP-RP2); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences which are at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0019] The present invention provides in another embodiment: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding all or a portion of a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:6 (OATP-RP3); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences which are at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0020] The present invention provides in another embodiment: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding all or a portion of a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:8 (OATP-RP4); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences which are at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0021] The present invention provides in another embodiment: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding all or a portion of a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:10 (OATP-RP5); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences which are at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0022] The present invention provides in another embodiment: (a) an isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding all or a portion of a protein having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:12 (OATP-RP1); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences which are at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0023] The present invention also provides: (a) a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 (OATP2); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0024] The present invention further provides: (a) a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 (OATP-RP2); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0025] The present invention further provides: (a) a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:5 (OATP-RP3); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0026] The present invention further provides: (a) a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:7 (OATP-RP4); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0027] The present invention further provides: (a) a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:9 (OATP-RP5); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0028] The present invention further provides: (a) a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:11 (OATP-RP1); (b) nucleic acid sequences complementary to (a); (c) nucleic acid sequences having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 98% sequence identity to (a); or (d) a fragment of (a) or (b) that is at least 18 bases and which will hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent conditions.

[0029] The present invention additionally covers polynucleotides and amino acid sequences of the present invention having one or more structural mutations including replacement, deletion or insertion mutations. For example, a signal peptide may be deleted, or conservative amino acid substitutions may be made to generate a protein that is still biologically competent or active.

[0030] The invention further contemplates a recombinant molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention or an oligonucleotide fragment thereof and an expression control sequence operatively linked to the nucleic acid molecule or oligonucleotide fragment. A transformant host cell including a recombinant molecule of the invention is also provided.

[0031] In another aspect, the invention features a cell or purified preparation of cells which include a novel gene encoding an OATP of the present invention, or which otherwise misexpresses a gene encoding an OATP of the present invention. The cell preparation can consist of human or non-human cells, e.g., rodent cells, e.g., mouse or rat cells, rabbit cells, non-human primate cells, or pig cells. In preferred embodiments, the cell or cells include an OATP transgene, e.g., a heterologous form of an OATP gene, e.g., a gene derived from humans (in the case of a non-human cell). The OATP transgene can be misexpressed, e.g., overexpressed or underexpressed. In other preferred embodiments, the cell or cells include a gene which misexpresses an endogenous OATP gene, e.g., a gene that expression of which is disrupted, e.g., a knockout. Such cells can serve as a model for studying disorders which are related to mutated or misexpressed OATP alleles for use in drug screening.

[0032] Still further, the invention provides plasmids which comprise the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. Also encompassed within the invention are vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein, as well as host cells comprising said vectors.

[0033] The present invention also includes a novel OATP of the present invention, or an active part thereof. A biologically competent or active form of the protein or part thereof is also referred to herein as an “active OATP or part thereof”.

[0034] The invention further contemplates antibodies having specificity against an epitope of an OATP of the present invention or part of the protein. These antibodies may be polyclonal or monoclonal. The antibodies may be labeled with a detectable substance and they may be used, for example, to detect a novel OATP of the invention in tissue and cells. Additionally, the antibodies of the present invention, or portions thereof, may be used to make targeted antibodies that destroy OATP expressing cells (e.g., antibody-toxin fusion proteins, or radiolabelled antibodies).

[0035] The invention also permits the construction of nucleotide probes which encode part or all of a novel OATP protein of the invention or a part of the protein. Thus, the invention also relates to a probe comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for a protein, which displays the properties of a novel OATP of the invention or a peptide unique to the protein. The probe may be labeled, for example, with a detectable (e.g., radioactive) substance and it may be used to select from a mixture of nucleotide sequences a nucleotide sequence coding for a protein which displays the properties of a novel OATP of the invention.

[0036] The present invention also provides a transgenic non-human animal (e.g., a rodent, e.g., a mouse or a rat, a rabbit or a pig) or embryo all of whose germ cells and somatic cells contain a recombinant molecule of the invention, preferably a recombinant molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encoding an OATP of the invention or part thereof. The recombinant molecule may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding an OATP of the present invention with a structural mutation, or may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding an OATP of the invention or part thereof and one or more regulatory elements which differ from the regulatory elements that drive expression of the native protein. In another preferred embodiment, the animal has an OATP gene which is misexpressed or not expressed, e.g., a knockout. Such transgenic animals can serve as a model for studying disorders that are related to mutated or misexpressed OATPs of the present invention.

[0037] The invention still further provides a method for identifying a substance which is capable of binding a novel OATP of the invention, comprising reacting a novel OATP of the invention or part of the protein under conditions which permit the formation of a complex between the substance and a novel OATP protein or part of the protein, and assaying for substance-OATP complexes, for free substance, for non-complexed OATP, or for activation of an OATP.

[0038] An embodiment of the invention provides a method for identifying substrates which are capable of binding to a novel OATP protein of the invention, isoforms thereof, or part of the protein, said method comprising reacting a novel OATP protein of the invention, isoforms thereof, or part of the protein, with at least one substrate which potentially is capable of binding to the protein, isoform, or part of the protein, under conditions which permit the formation of substrate-transporter protein complexes, and assaying for substrate-transporter protein complexes, for free substrate, for non-complexed OATP protein, or for activation of an OATP. In a preferred embodiment of the method, substrates are identified which are capable of binding to and being transported by a novel OATP protein of the invention, isoforms thereof, or part of the protein.

[0039] The invention also provides methods for screening potentially useful pharmacological agonists or antagonists of the OATPs of the present invention. The method comprises testing potential agents by adding the agent to be tested to a cell expressing a novel OATP of the present invention in the presence of a compound known to be transported by an OATP of the invention, and measuring the augmentation or inhibition of transport of the known compound.

[0040] An OATP of the present invention is also useful to identify compounds that may be transported into an organ, e.g., the liver. Compounds that are found to be actively transported into the liver are useful as carriers for other therapeutics targeting the liver.

[0041] Also included within the scope of the present invention is a composition which includes an OATP of the present invention, a fragment thereof (or a nucleic acid encoding said OATP or fragment thereof) and one or more additional components, e.g., a carrier, diluent or solvent. The additional component can be one that renders the composition useful for in vitro, in vivo, pharmaceutical or veterinary use.

[0042] Encompassed within the present invention are agonists and antagonists of an OATP of the present invention. Pharmacological agonists or antagonists are useful to increase or decrease the flow of compounds transported by an OATP of the present invention. Said agonists and/or antagonists of the present invention are preferably administered with an acceptable carrier, diluent or solvent.

[0043] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of treating a mammal, e.g., a human, at risk for a disorder, e.g., a disorder characterized by aberrant or unwanted level or biological activity of an OATP of the present invention. Additionally, encompassed within the invention is a method of treating a mammal, e.g., a human, at risk for disorders of the liver. Since OATP2 is expressed exclusively in the liver, compounds that are optimized for OATP2 are useful to target hepatic delivery. These compounds in themselves may be useful therapeutics, or may be useful to chaperone other therapeutic compounds to the liver. In addition, blocking OATP2-compound interactions could provide benefit by decreasing its first-pass extraction by the liver and, thus, increasing plasma concentrations and prolonging the systemic half-life of a drug.

[0044] Also within the scope of the present invention are fusion proteins comprising all or a portion of an OATP of the present invention.

[0045] The primary object of the present invention is the identification of new human OATPs, as identified by the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences disclosed herein. Additional objects of the invention are the methods of using the cDNA, the OATP proteins, monoclonal antibodies specific for the novel OATPs, fusion proteins comprising a portion of the OATP protein of the present invention, and agonists and/or antagonists of the novel OATPs as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0046]FIG. 1 is a Northern blot showing the mRNA tissue distribution of OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP4, and OATP-RP5. The tissues corresponding to the abbreviations above the lanes are indicated below.

[0047]FIG. 2 shows that OATP2 transports pravastatin, dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEAS), taurocholate and thyroid hormone (T). FIG. 2A shows specific uptake of [³H]-pravastatin and [³H]-DHEAS. FIG. 2B shows specific uptake of [³H]-taurocholate. Panel 2C shows specific uptake of [¹²⁵I]-thyroid hormone (T4). The uptake of radiolabeled substrate for 5 minutes into cells transfected with pCEPOATP-RP 1 or empty vector (MOCK) was determined in the absence (solid bars) and presence (open bars) of excess unlabeled substrate.

[0048]FIG. 3 shows a sequence alignment of OATP family members. The protein sequences of human OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4, and OATP-RP5 are aligned with the other known OATP family members. Also shown is a concensus sequence in bold. A concensus is indicated if at least 6 out of the 12 sequences are identical at a given position. A residue is capitalized if it agrees with the concensus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] The following definitions apply to the terms used throughout this specification, unless otherwise defined in specific instances:

[0050] “cloning”—isolation of a particular gene from genetic material, for example a genome, genomic library, or cDNA library into a plasmid or other vector;

[0051] “coding region”—the region of a nucleic acid sequence that codes for an active protein;

[0052] “OATP”—organic anion transport protein;

[0053] “stringent conditions” (as used concerning nucleic acid hybridization)—Southern blotting washed in 0.1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at a temperature of at least about 65° C. See Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1982); one skilled in the relevant art would recognize that less stringent conditions (e.g., 1× or 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS) may be employed in using the novel sequences disclosed herein to identify nucleic acid sequences encoding novel OATPs.

[0054] “Northern blotting”—a method of identifying particular RNA fragments by hybridization with a complementary nucleic acid, typically a cDNA or an oligonucleotide;

[0055] “open reading frame” or “ORF”—a DNA sequence containing a series of nucleotide triplets coding for amino acids and lacking any termination codes;

[0056] “plasmid”—cytoplasmic, autonomously replicating DNA elements found in microorganisms;

[0057] “promoter”—a region on DNA at which RNA polymerase binds and initiates transcription; and

[0058] “Southern blotting”—a method of identifying particular DNA fragments by hybridization with a complementary nucleic acid, typically a cDNA or an oligonucleotide;

[0059] “transport”—the movement of a substance across a biological membrane as determined by measuring the redistribution of such a substance across the membrane upon exposure to a transporter.

[0060] For definitions of other terms in this specification, see F. Sherman et al., Laboratory Course Manual for Methods in Yeast Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1987) and Lewin, B., Genes IV, Oxford University Press, Oxford (1990). For the definitions of abbreviations, see Aldrichimica Acta, Vol. 17, No. 1 (1984).

[0061] Use and utility

[0062] The amino acid sequences of the novel organic anion transport proteins of the present invention are aligned with known transporters of this family in FIG. 3. The degree of sequence homology between the sequences of the present invention and known organic anion transporters indicates that the proteins of the present invention are organic anion transporters.

[0063] It is believed by those skilled in the art that OATP proteins may be involved in the transport of compounds into the liver. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can use the OATP proteins of the present invention to assay for agents that may increase or decrease the rate of transport of compounds into the liver, or for compounds that are transported by the OATPs of the present invention that are useful as carriers for other compounds that are desired to be carried to a specific organ (e.g., the liver).

[0064] Therefore, agents that increase or decrease the rate of substrate transport by the OATPs of the present invention, or agents identified as carriers, are useful in the treatment of liver disease.

[0065] Because some of the OATPs of the present invention are organ specific/selective (e.g., OATP2— liver; OATP-RP4— heart and skeletal muscle, and OATP-RP5— brain and testis), compound specificity is built into any specific substrate of these OATPs and into molecular carriers transported by these OATPs. An agent transported by the above OATPs of the present invention would thus be delivered to the tissues in which they are expressed and not to tissues lacking the above OATPs, thereby achieving tissue specific targeting.

[0066] The OATP nucleic acids of the present invention, or antisense nucleic acids, may be useful therapeutic or diagnostic agents. For such gene therapy, the nucleic acids may be incorporated into vectors and/or formulated as described below and in further detail in the art.

[0067] The present invention also provides a basis for diagnostic genetic screens for predicting response to drugs. At least one of the transporters disclosed and claimed herein is a transporter of a known drug (i.e., OATP2 transports pravastatin into hepatocytes). Other transporters disclosed herein may similarly transport additional drugs into tissues. Persons skilled in the art can: (1) screen the transporter genes for allelic variants (genotypes) in the general population by various sequencing methods; and (2) determine the association of these transporter genotypes in patients with response to the transported drug in clinical trials. Particular allelic variants may be more or less effective in transporting a drug, which would be related to drug efficacy. Thus, genotyping of the claimed transporters could form the basis of a clinical diagnostic test to predict a patient's response to drug therapy.

[0068] Persons skilled in the art can use the polypeptides and nucleic acids of this invention to prepare vectors, cells or cell lines, and antibodies. All of these are useful in assays for identification of OATP positive and negative modulators (i.e., agonists and/or antagonists) and OATP carriers. The term “positive modulator” as used herein refers to an agent or compound that increases the rate or amount of transport of a compound into an organ, e.g., the liver, or an agent or compound that decreases the rate or amount of transport of a compound into an organ. The term “negative modulator” refers to a compound that is joined to a second compound to prevent the second compounds transport into or out of cells. The term “carrier” as used herein refers to an agent or compound that is transported by an OATP of the present invention and that is capable of being joined to or associated with another compound to chaperone that other compound into an organ, e.g., the liver. A carrier includes an agent that is used to transport a compound into an organ that is otherwise not transported into said organ, and includes an agent that increases the transport of a compound into an organ that is capable of being transported by an OATP.

[0069] One can administer OATP modulators and carriers to various mammalian species, such as monkeys, dogs, cats, mice, rats, humans, etc. By known methods, persons skilled in the pharmaceutical art can incorporate OATP modulators and carriers in a conventional systemic dosage form, such as a tablet, capsule, elixir or injectable formulation. The above dosage forms will also include any necessary physiologically acceptable carrier material, excipient, lubricant, buffer, antibacterial, bulking agent (such as mannitol), anti-oxidants (ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite) or the like.

[0070] Process of preparation

[0071] In general

[0072] This specification describes the cloning and functional expression of full-length human cDNA clones of OATPs, preferably the nucleic acid sequence of OATP2 (SEQ ID NO:1), the amino acid sequence of OATP2 (SEQ ID NO:2), the nucleic acid sequence of OATP-RP2 (SEQ ID NO:3), the amino acid sequence of OATP-RP2 (SEQ ID NO:4), the nucleic acid sequence of OATP-RP3 (SEQ ID NO:5), the amino acid sequence of OATP-RP3 (SEQ ID NO:6), the nucleic acid sequence of OATP-RP4 (SEQ ID NO:7), the amino acid sequence of OATP-RP4 (SEQ ID NO:8), the nucleic acid sequence of OATP-RP5 (SEQ ID NO:9), the amino acid sequence of OATP-RP5 (SEQ ID NO:10), the nucleic acid sequence of OATP-RP1 (SEQ ID NO:11), and the amino acid sequence of OATP-RP1 (SEQ ID NO:12).

[0073] DNA clones comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the OATPs described above were deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (“ATCC”) (10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209) on Apr. 20, 1999, and given the following ATCC Accession Numbers: 207209 (OATP-RP3), 207210 (OATP-RP4), 207211 (OATP-RP5), 207212 (OATP-RP2), 207213 (OATP2), and 207214 (OATP-RP1). The deposit(s) referred to herein will be maintained under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for purposes of Patent Procedure. These deposits are provided merely as convenience to those of skill in the art and are not an admission that a deposit is required under 35 U.S.C. §112. The sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited materials, as well as the amino acid sequence of the of the polypeptides encoded thereby, are incorporated herein by reference and are controlling in the event of any conflict with any description of sequences herein. A license may be required to make, use or sell the deposited materials, and no such license is hereby granted.

[0074] Nucleic Acids

[0075] With the disclosed OATP gene sequences in hand, one skilled in the art can obtain OATP nucleic acids of this invention by known methods. Such methods include: (1) Southern and Northern blotting; (2) Western immunoblotting; (3) chemical synthesis; (4) synthesis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from primers; (5) expression cloning; and (6) subtractive cDNA cloning.

[0076] Preferred nucleic acid sequences of the present invention include the following (preferably the coding sequences as shown below): OATP2 (SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2): CGGACGCGTG GGCGGACGCG TGGGTCGCCC ACGCGTCCGA CTTGTTGCAG  50 TTGCTGTAGG ATTCTAAATC CAGGTGATTG TTTCAAACTG AGCATCAACA  100 ACAAAAACAT TTGTATGATA TCTATATTTC AATC ATG GAC CAA AAT CAA  149                                        M   D   Q   N   Q CAT TTG AAT AAA ACA GCA GAG GCA CAA CCT TCA GAG AAT AAG  191  H   L   N   K   T   A   E   A   Q   P   S   E   N   K AAA ACA AGA TAC TGC AAT GGA TTG AAG ATG TTC TTG GCA GCT  233  K   T   R   Y   C   N   G   L   K   M   F   L   A   A CTG TCA CTC AGC TTT ATT GCT AAG ACA CTA GGT GCA ATT ATT  275  L   S   L   S   F   I   A   K   T   L   G   A   I   I ATG AAA AGT TCC ATC ATT CAT ATA GAA CGG AGA TTT GAG ATA  317  M   K   S   S   I   I   H   I   E   R   R   F   E   I TCC TCT TCT CTT GTT GGT TTT ATT GAC GGA AGC TTT GAA ATT  359  S   S   S   L   V   G   F   I   D   G   S   F   E   I GGA AAT TTG CTT GTG ATT GTA TTT GTG AGT TAC TTT GGA TCC  401  G   N   L   L   V   I   V   F   V   S   Y   F   G   S AAA CTA CAT AGA CCA AAG TTA ATT GGA ATC GGT TGT TTC ATT  443  K   L   H   R   P   K   L   I   G   I   G   C   F   I ATG GGA ATT GGA GGT GTT TTG ACT GCT TTG CCA CAT TTC TTC  485  M   G   I   G   G   V   L   T   A   L   P   H   F   F ATG GGA TAT TAC AGG TAT TCT AAA GAA ACT AAT ATC GAT TCA  527  M   G   Y   Y   R   Y   S   K   E   T   N   I   D   S TCA GAA AAT TCA ACA TCG ACC TTA TCC ACT TGT TTA ATT AAT  569  S   E   N   S   T   S   T   L   S   T   C   L   I   N CAA ATT TTA TCA CTC AAT AGA GCA TCA CCT GAG ATA GTG GGA  611  Q   I   L   S   L   N   R   A   S   P   E   I   V   G AAA GGT TGT TTA AAG GAA TCT GGG TCA TAC ATG TGG ATA TAT  653  K   G   C   L   K   E   S   G   S   Y   M   W   I   Y GTG TTC ATG GGT AAT ATG CTT CGT GGA ATA GGG GAG ACT CCC  695  V   F   M   G   N   M   L   R   G   I   G   E   T   P ATA GTA CCA TTG GGG CTT TCT TAC ATT GAT GAT TTC GCT AAA  737  I   V   P   L   G   L   S   Y   I   D   D   F   A   K GAA GGA CAT TCT TCT TTG TAT TTA GGT ATA TTG AAT GCA ATA  779  E   G   H   S   S   L   Y   L   G   I   L   N   A   I GCA ATG ATT GGT CCA ATC ATT GGC TTT ACC CTG GGA TCT CTG  821  A   M   I   G   P   I   I   G   F   T   L   G   S   L TTT TCT AAA ATG TAC GTG GAT ATT GGA TAT GTA GAT CTA AGC  863  F   S   K   M   Y   V   D   I   G   Y   V   D   L   S ACT ATC AGG ATA ACT CCT ACT GAT TCT CGA TGG GTT GGA GCT  905  T   I   R   I   T   P   T   D   S   R   W   V   G   A TGG TGG CTT AAT TTC CTT GTG TCT GGA CTA TTC TCC ATT ATT  947  W   W   L   N   F   L   V   S   G   L   F   S   I   I TCT TCC ATA CCA TTC TTT TTC TTG CCC CAA ACT CCA AAT AAA  989  S   S   I   P   F   F   F   L   P   Q   T   P   N   K CCA CAA AAA GAA AGA AAA GCT TCA CTG TCT TTG CAT GTG CTG 1031  P   Q   K   E   R   K   A   S   L   S   L   H   V   L GAA ACA AAT GAT GAA AAG GAT CAA ACA GCT AAT TTG ACC AAT 1073  E   T   N   D   E   K   D   Q   T   A   N   L   T   N CAA GGA AAA AAT ATT ACC AAA AAT GTG ACT GGT TTT TTC CAG 1115  Q   G   K   N   I   T   K   N   V   T   G   F   F   Q TCT TTT AAA AGC ATC CTT ACT AAT CCC CTG TAT GTT ATG TTT 1157  S   F   K   S   I   L   T   N   P   L   Y   V   M   F GTG CTT TTG ACG TTG TTA CAA GTA AGC AGC TAT ATT GGT GCT 1199  V   L   L   T   L   L   Q   V   S   S   Y   I   G   A TTT ACT TAT GTC TTC AAA TAC GTA GAG CAA CAG TAT GGT CAG 1241  F   T   Y   V   F   K   Y   V   E   Q   Q   Y   G   Q CCT TCA TCT AAG GCT AAC ATC TTA TTG GGA GTC ATA ACC ATA 1283  P   S   S   K   A   N   I   L   L   G   V   I   T   I CCT ATT TTT GCA AGT GGA ATG TTT TTA GGA GGA TAT ATC ATT 1325  P   I   F   A   S   G   M   F   L   G   G   Y   I   I AAA AAA TTC AAA CTG AAC ACC GTT GGA ATT GCC AAA TTC TCA 1367  K   K   F   K   L   N   T   V   G   I   A   K   F   S TGT TTT ACT GCT GTG ATG TCA TTG TCC TTT TAC CTA TTA TAT 1409  C   F   T   A   V   M   S   L   S   F   Y   L   L   Y TTT TTC ATA CTC TGT GAA AAC AAA TCA GTT GCC GGA CTA ACC 1451  F   F   I   L   C   E   N   K   S   V   A   G   L   T ATG ACC TAT GAT GGA AAT AAT CCA GTG ACA TCT CAT AGA GAT 1493  M   T   Y   D   G   N   N   P   V   T   S   H   R   D GTA CCA CTT TCT TAT TGC AAC TCA GAC TGC AAT TGT GAT GAA 1535  V   P   L   S   Y   C   N   S   D   C   N   C   D   E AGT CAA TGG GAA CCA GTC TGT GGA AAC AAT GGA ATA ACT TAC 1577  S   Q   W   E   P   V   C   G   N   N   G   I   T   Y ATC TCA CCC TGT CTA GCA GGT TGC AAA TCT TCA AGT GGC AAT 1619  I   S   P   C   L   A   G   C   K   S   S   S   G   N AAA AAG CCT ATA GTG TTT TAC AAC TGC AGT TGT TTG GAA GTA 1661  K   K   P   I   V   F   Y   N   C   S   C   L   E   V ACT GGT CTC CAG AAC AGA AAT TAC TCA GCC CAT TTG GGT GAA 1703  T   G   L   Q   N   R   N   Y   S   A   H   L   G   E TGC CCA AGA GAT GAT GCT TGT ACA AGG AAA TTT TAC TTT TTT 1745  C   P   R   D   D   A   C   T   R   K   F   Y   F   F GTT GCA ATA CAA GTC TTG AAT TTA TTT TTC TCT GCA CTT GGA 1787  V   A   I   Q   V   L   N   L   F   F   S   A   L   G GGC ACC TCA CAT GTC ATG CTG ATT GTT AAA ATT GTT CAA CCT 1829  G   T   S   H   V   M   L   I   V   K   I   V   Q   P GAA TTG AAA TCA CTT GCA CTG GGT TTC CAC TCA ATG GTT ATA 1871  E   L   K   S   L   A   L   G   F   H   S   M   V   I CGA GCA CTA GGA GGA ATT CTA GCT CCA ATA TAT TTT GGG GCT 1913  R   A   L   G   G   I   L   A   P   I   Y   F   G   A CTG ATT GAT ACA ACG TGT ATA AAG TGG TCC ACC AAC AAC TGT 1955  L   I   D   T   T   C   I   K   W   S   T   N   N   C GGC ACA CGT GGG TCA TGT AGG ACA TAT AAT TCC ACA TCA TTT 1997  G   T   R   G   S   C   R   T   Y   N   S   T   S   F TCA AGG GTC TAC TTG GGC TTG TCT TCA ATG TTA AGA GTC TCA 2039  S   R   V   Y   L   G   L   S   S   M   L   R   V   S TCA CTT GTT TTA TAT ATT ATA TTA ATT TAT GCC ATG AAG AAA 2081  S   L   V   L   Y   I   I   L   I   Y   A   M   K   K AAA TAT CAA GAG AAA GAT ATC AAT GCA TCA GAA AAT GGA AGT 2123  K   Y   Q   E   K   D   I   N   A   S   E   N   G   S GTC ATG GAT GAA GCA AAC TTA GAA TCC TTA AAT AAA AAT AAA 2165  V   M   D   E   A   N   L   E   S   L   N   K   N   K CAT TTT GTC CCT TCT GCT GGG GCA GAT AGT GAA ACA CAT TGT 2207  H   F   V   P   S   A   G   A   D   S   E   T   H   C TAA GGGGAGAAAA AAAGCCACTT CTGCTTCTGT GTTTCCAAAC AGCATTGCAT 2260 * TGATTCAGTA AGATGTTATT TTTGAGGAGT TCCTGGTCCT TTCACTAAGA 2310 ATTTCCACAT CTTTTATGGT GGAAGTATAA ATAAGCCTAT GAACTTATAA 2360 TAAAACAAAC TGTAGGTAGA AAAAATGAGA GTACTCATTG TTACATTATA 2410 GCTACATATT TGTGGTTAAG GTTAGACTAT ATGATCCATA CAAATTAAAG 2460 TGAGAGACAT GGTTACTGTG TAATAAAAGA AAAAATACTT GTTCAGGTAA 2510 TTCTAATTCT TAATAAAACA AATGAGTATC ATACAGGTAG AGGTTAAAAA 2560 GGAGGAGCTA GATTCATATC CTAAGTAAAG AGAAATGCCT AGTGTCTATT 2610 TTATTAAACA AACAAACACA GAGTTTGAAC TATAATACTA AGGCCTGAAG 2660 TCTAGCTTGG ATATATGCTA CAATAATATC TGTTACTCAC ATAAAATTAT 2710 ATATTTCACA GACTTTATCA ATGTATAATT AACAATTATC TTGTTTAAGT 2760 AAATTTAGAA TACATTTAAG TATTGTGGAA GAAATAAAGA CATTCCAATA 2810 TTTGCAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA 2830 OATP-RP2 (SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4): CCCGGGTCGA CCCACGCGTC CGGGATAAAG TACTCCCAGG AAGGCTTTGA  50 GCCTTGGCAG AAGAGGCTGG GATTGAAGCT TCAGGGAGAG CCAGAGGTGA  100 GGCTGGAGTG GGAGATCACC TGAGGCAGGG CCAGCGGGTG AGGTACCCCA  150 GGTACCAGAC AAGGAAACCA AAGCCACA ATG GGC ACA GAA AAC ACA CCT  199                                 M   G   T   E   N   T   P GGA GGC AAA GCC AGC CCA GAC CCT CAG GAC GTG CGG CCA AGT  241  G   G   K   A   S   P   D   P   Q   D   V   R   P   S GTG TTC CAT AAC ATC AAG CTG TTC GTT CTG TGC CAC AGC CTG  283  V   F   H   N   I   K   L   F   V   L   C   H   S   L CTG CAG CTG GCG CAG CTC ATG ATC TCC GGC TAC CTA AAG AGC  325  L   Q   L   A   Q   L   M   I   S   G   Y   L   K   S TCC ATC TCC ACA GTG GAG AAG CGC TTC GGC CTC TCC AGC CAG  367  S   I   S   T   V   E   K   R   F   G   L   S   S   Q ACG TCG GGG CTG CTG GCC TCC TTC AAC GAG GTG GGG AAC ACA  409  T   S   G   L   L   A   S   F   N   E   V   G   N   T GCC TTG ATT GTG TTT GTG AGC TAT TTT GGC AGC CGG GTG CAC  451  A   L   I   V   F   V   S   Y   F   G   S   R   V   H CGA CCC CGA ATG ATT GGC TAT GGG GCT ATC CTT GTG GCC CTG  493  R   P   R   M   I   G   Y   G   A   I   L   V   A   L GCG GGC CTG CTC ATG ACT CTC CCG CAC TTC ATC TCG GAG CCA  535  A   G   L   L   M   T   L   P   H   F   I   S   E   P TAC CGC TAC GAC AAC ACC AGC CCT GAG GAT ATG CCA CAG GAC  577  Y   R   Y   D   N   T   S   P   E   D   M   P   Q   D TTC AAG GCT TCC CTG TGC CTG CCC ACA ACC TCG GCC CCA GCC  619  F   K   A   S   L   C   L   P   T   T   S   A   P   A TCG GCC CCC TCC AAT GGC AAC TGC TCA AGC TAC ACA GAA ACC  661  S   A   P   S   N   G   N   C   S   S   Y   T   E   T CAG CAT CTG AGT GTG GTG GGG ATC ATG TTC GTG GCA CAG ACC  703  Q   H   L   S   V   V   G   I   M   F   V   A   Q   T CTG CTG GGC GTG GGC GGG GTG CCC ATT CAG CCC TTT GGC ATC  745  L   L   G   V   G   G   V   P   I   Q   P   F   G   I TCC TAC ATC GTT GAC TTT GCC CAC AAC AGT AAC TCG CCC CTC  787  S   Y   I   V   D   F   A   H   N   S   N   S   P   L TAC CTC GGG ATC CTG TTT GCA GTG ACC ATG ATG GGG CCA GGC  829  Y   L   G   I   L   F   A   V   T   M   M   G   P   G CTG GCC TTT GGG CTG GGC AGC CTC ATG CTG CGC CTT TAT GTG  871  L   A   F   G   L   G   S   L   M   L   R   L   Y   V GAC ATT AAC CAG ATG CCA GAA GGT GGT ATC AGC CTG ACC ATA  913  D   I   N   Q   M   P   E   G   G   I   S   L   T   I AAG GAC CCC CGA TGG GTG GGT GCC TGG TGG CTG GGT TTC CTC  955  K   D   P   R   W   V   G   A   W   W   L   G   F   L ATC GCT GCC GGT GCA GTG GCC CTG GCT GCC ATC CCC TAC TTC  997  I   A   A   G   A   V   A   L   A   A   I   P   Y   F TTC TTC CCC AAG GAA ATG CCC AAG GAA AAA CGT GAG CTT CAG 1039  F   F   P   K   E   M   P   K   E   K   R   E   L   Q TTT CGG CGA AAG GTC TTA GCA GTC ACA GAC TCA CCT GCC AGG 1081  F   R   R   K   V   L   A   V   T   D   S   P   A   R AAG GGC AAG GAC TCT CCC TCT AAG CAG AGC CCT GGG GAG TCC 1123  K   G   K   D   S   P   S   K   Q   S   P   G   E   S ACG AAG AAG CAG GAT GGC CTA GTC CAG ATT GCA CCA AAC CTG 1165  T   K   K   Q   D   G   L   V   Q   I   A   P   N   L ACT GTG ATC CAG TTC ATT AAA GTC TTC CCC AGG GTG CTG CTG 1207  T   V   I   Q   F   I   K   V   F   P   R   V   L   L CAG ACC CTA CGC CAC CCC ATC TTC CTG CTG GTG GTC CTG TCC 1249  Q   T   L   R   H   P   I   F   L   L   V   V   L   S CAG GTA TGC TTG TCA TCC ATG GCT GCG GGC ATG GCC ACC TTC 1291  Q   V   C   L   S   S   M   A   A   G   M   A   T   F CTG CCC AAG TTC CTG GAG CGC CAG TTT TCC ATC ACA GCC TCC 1333  L   P   K   F   L   E   R   Q   F   S   I   T   A   S TAC GCC AAC CTG CTC ATC GGC TGC CTC TCC TTC CCT TCG GTC 1375  Y   A   N   L   L   I   G   C   L   S   F   P   S   V ATC GTG GGC ATC GTG GTG GGT GGC GTC CTG GTC AAG CGG CTC 1417  I   V   G   I   V   V   G   G   V   L   V   K   R   L CAC CTG GGC CCT GTG GGA TGC GGT GCC CTT TGC CTG CTG GGG 1459  H   L   G   P   V   G   C   G   A   L   C   L   L   G ATG CTG CTG TGC CTC TTC TTC AGC CTG CCG CTC TTC TTT ATC 1501  M   L   L   C   L   F   F   S   L   P   L   F   F   I GGC TGC TCC AGC CAC CAG ATT GCG GGC ATC ACA CAC CAG ACC 1543  G   C   S   S   H   Q   I   A   G   I   T   H   Q   T AGT GCC CAC CCT GGG CTG GAG CTG TCT CCA AGC TGC ATG GAG 1585  S   A   H   P   G   L   E   L   S   P   S   C   M   E GCC TGC TCC TGC CCA TTG GAC GGC TTT AAC CCT GTC TGC GAC 1627  A   C   S   C   P   L   D   G   F   N   P   V   C   D CCC AGC ACT CGT GTG GAA TAC ATC ACA CCC TGC CAC GCA GGC 1669  P   S   T   R   V   E   Y   I   T   P   C   H   A   G TGC TCA AGC TGG GTG GTC CAG GAT GCT CTG GAC AAC AGC CAG 1711  C   S   S   W   V   V   Q   D   A   L   D   N   S   Q GTT TTC TAC ACC AAC TGC AGC TGC GTG GTG GAG GGC AAC CCC 1753  V   F   Y   T   N   C   S   C   V   V   E   G   N   P GTG CTG GCA GGA TCC TGC GAC TCA ACG TGC AGC CAT CTG GTG 1795  V   L   A   G   S   C   D   S   T   C   S   H   L   V GTG CCC TTC CTG CTC CTG GTC AGC CTG GGC TCG GCC CTG GCC 1837  V   P   F   L   L   L   V   S   L   G   S   A   L   A TGT CTC ACC CAC ACA CCC TCC TTC ATG CTC ATC CTA AGA GGA 1879  C   L   T   H   T   P   S   F   M   L   I   L   R   G GTG AAG AAA GAA GAC AAG ACT TTG GCT GTG GGC ATC CAG TTC 1921  V   K   K   E   D   K   T   L   A   V   G   I   Q   F ATG TTC CTG AGG ATT TTG GCC TGG ATG CCC AGC CCC GTG ATC 1963  M   F   L   R   I   L   A   W   M   P   S   P   V   I CAC GGC AGC GCC ATC GAC ACC ACC TGT GTG CAC TGG GCC CTG 2005  H   G   S   A   I   D   T   T   C   V   H   W   A   L AGC TGT GGG CGT CGA GCT GTC TGT CGC TAC TAC AAT AAT GAC 2047  S   C   G   R   R   A   V   C   R   Y   Y   N   N   D CTG CTC CGA AAC CGG TTC ATC GGC CTC CAG TTC TTC TTC AAA 2089  L   L   R   N   R   F   I   G   L   Q   F   F   F   K ACA GGT TCT GTG ATC TGC TTC GCC TTA GTT TTG GCT GTC CTG 2131  T   G   S   V   I   C   F   A   L   V   L   A   V   L AGG CAG CAG GAC AAA GAG GCA AGG ACC AAA GAG AGC AGA TCC 2173  R   Q   Q   D   K   E   A   R   T   K   E   S   R   S AGC CCT GCC GTA GAG CAG CAA TTG CTA GTG TCG GGG CCA GGG 2215  S   P   A   V   E   Q   Q   L   L   V   S   G   P   G AAG AAG CCA GAG GAT TCC CGA GTG TGA GCTGTCTTGG GGCCCCACCT 2262  K   K   P   E   D   S   R   V   * GGCCAAGAGT AGCAGCCACA GCAGTACCTC CTCTGAGTCC TTTGCCCAAG 2312 ATTGGGTGTC AAGAGCCCTG TGTTCCATTC TGGCTCCTCC ACTAAATTGC 2362 TGTGTGACTT CAGGCAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA 2412 AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA 2442 OATP-RP3 (SEQ ID NOS: 5 and 6):                                          CC CACGCGTCCG  12 GCGAGGAGCT GTGCCTTCCA CCTCTCCAGC CCCGGCAGGA CGGGGGCGGC  62 CGCCGCGAAC CCGGGGCGGG GACAGCACGC AGCCTCGAGG CGCGCACCCC  112 CGCCCGGCAG CGGCCCCGAC ACCCGGGGCG AGCGGGAAAG CGGCAGCGGC  162 GGCGGCGGCG GCGGCGGCGG GGGAAGG ATG CAG GGG AAG AAG CCG GGC  210                                M   Q   G   K   K   P   G GGT TCG TCG GGC GGC GGC CGG AGC GGC GAG CTG CAG GGG GAC  252  G   S   S   G   G   G   R   S   G   E   L   Q   G   D GAG GCG CAG AGG AAC AAG AAA AAG AAA AAG AAG GTG TCC TGC  294  E   A   Q   R   N   K   K   K   K   K   K   V   S   C TTT TCC AAC ATC AAG ATC TTC CTG GTG TCC GAG TGC GCC CTG  336  F   S   N   I   K   I   F   L   V   S   E   C   A   L ATG CTG GCG CAG GGC ACG GTG GGC GCC TAC CTG GTG AGC GTC  378  M   L   A   Q   G   T   V   G   A   Y   L   V   S   V CTG ACC ACC CTG GAG CGT AGG TTC AAC CTG CAG AGC GCT GAC  420  L   T   T   L   E   R   R   F   N   L   Q   S   A   D GTG GGT GTG ATC GCT AGC AGC TTC GAG ATC GGG AAC CTG GCG  462  V   G   V   I   A   S   S   F   E   I   G   N   L   A CTC ATC CTC TTC GTG AGC TAC TTC GGG GCA CGC GGG CAC CGG  504  L   I   L   F   V   S   Y   F   G   A   R   G   H   R CCG CGC CTG ATC GGC TGC GGC GGC ATC GTC ATG GCG CTG GGC  546  P   R   L   I   G   C   G   G   I   V   M   A   L   G GCG CTG CTG TCG GCG CTG CCC GAG TTC CTG ACC CAC CAG TAC  588  A   L   L   S   A   L   P   E   F   L   T   H   Q   Y AAG TAC GAG GCG GGC GAG ATC CGC TGG GGC GCC GAG GGC CGC  630  K   Y   E   A   G   E   I   R   W   G   A   E   G   R GAC GTC TGC GCA GCC AAC GGC TCG GGC GGC GAC GAG GGG CCC  672  D   V   C   A   A   N   G   S   G   G   D   E   G   P GAC CCC GAC CTC ATC TGC CGC AAC CGG ACG GCT ACC AAC ATG  714  D   P   D   L   I   C   R   N   R   T   A   T   N   M ATG TAC TTG CTG CTC ATT GGG GCC CAG GTG CTC CTG GGC ATC  756  M   Y   L   L   L   I   G   A   Q   V   L   L   G   I GGT GCT ACC CCT GTG CAG CCC CTG GGC GTC TCC TAC ATC GAC  798  G   A   T   P   V   Q   P   L   G   V   S   Y   I   D GAC CAC GTG CGG AGG AAG GAC TCC TCG CTC TAT ATA GGA ATC  840  D   H   V   R   R   K   D   S   S   L   Y   I   G   I CTG TTC ACG ATG CTG GTA TTT GGA CCA GCC TGC GGG TTT ATC  882  L   F   T   M   L   V   F   G   P   A   C   G   F   I CTG GGC TCT TTC TGT ACC AAA ATC TAC GTG GAT GCG GTC TTC  924  L   G   S   F   C   T   K   I   Y   V   D   A   V   F ATT GAC ACA AGT AAC CTG GAC ATC ACT CCG GAC GAC CCC CGC  966  I   D   T   S   N   L   D   I   T   P   D   D   P   R TGG ATC GGA GCC TGG TGG GGT GGC TTT CTG CTC TGC GGT GCC 1008  W   I   G   A   W   W   G   G   F   L   L   C   G   A TTA CTC TTC TTC TCT TCC CTC TTG ATG TTT GGG TTT CCA CAG 1050  L   L   F   F   S   S   L   L   M   F   G   F   P   Q TCC CTG CCC CCG CAC TCA GAC CCC GCC ATG GAA AGC GAG CAG 1092  S   L   P   P   H   S   D   P   A   M   E   S   E   Q GCC ATG CTC TCC GAA AGA GAA TAC GAG AGA CCC AAG CCC AGC 1134  A   M   L   S   E   R   E   Y   E   R   P   K   P   S AAC GGG GTC CTG AGG CAC CCC CTG GAG CCA GAC AGC AGT GCC 1176  N   G   V   L   R   H   P   L   E   P   D   S   S   A TCC TGT TTC CAG CAG CTG AGA GTG ATC CCG AAG GTC ACC AAG 1218  S   C   F   Q   Q   L   R   V   I   P   K   V   T   K CAC CTG CTC TCA AAC CCT GTG TTC ACC TGC ATC ATC CTG GCC 1260  H   L   L   S   N   P   V   F   T   C   I   I   L   A GCC TGC ATG GAG ATT GCA GTG GTG GCT GGC TTC GCT GCC TTT 1302  A   C   M   E   I   A   V   V   A   G   F   A   A   F TTG GGG AAG TAC CTG GAG CAG CAG TTT AAC CTC ACC ACC TCT 1344  L   G   K   Y   L   E   Q   Q   F   N   L   T   T   S TCT GCC AAC CAG CTG CTT GGG ATG ACT GCG ATC CCG TGT GCT 1386  S   A   N   Q   L   L   G   M   T   A   I   P   C   A TGT CTG GGT ATC TTC CTG GGA GGT CTT TTG GTG AAG AAG CTC 1428  C   L   G   I   F   L   G   G   L   L   V   K   K   L AGC CTG TCT GCC CTG GGG GCC ATT CGG ATG GCC ATG CTC GTC 1470  S   L   S   A   L   G   A   I   R   M   A   M   L   V AAC CTG GTG TCC ACT GCT TGC TAC GTC TCC TTC CTC TTC CTG 1512  N   L   V   S   T   A   C   Y   V   S   F   L   F   L GGC TGC GAC ACT GGC CCT GTG GCT GGG GTT ACT GTT CCC TAT 1554  G   C   D   T   G   P   V   A   G   V   T   V   P   Y GGA AAC AGC ACA GCA CCT GGC TCA GCC CTG GAC CCC TAC TCG 1596  G   N   S   T   A   P   G   S   A   L   D   P   Y   S CCC TGC AAT AAT AAC TGT GAA TGC CAA ACC GAT TCC TTC ACT 1638  P   C   N   N   N   C   E   C   Q   T   D   S   F   T CCA GTG TGT GGG GCA GAT GGC ATC ACC TAC CTG TCT GCC TGC 1680  P   V   C   G   A   D   G   I   T   Y   L   S   A   C TTT GCT GGC TGC AAC AGC ACG AAT CTC ACG GGC TGT GCG TGC 1722  F   A   G   C   N   S   T   N   L   T   G   C   A   C CTC ACC ACC GTC CCT GCT GAG AAC GCA ACC GTG GTT CCT GGA 1764  L   T   T   V   P   A   E   N   A   T   V   V   P   G AAA TGC CCC AGT CCT GGG TGC CAA GAG GCC TTC CTC ACT TTC 1806  K   C   P   S   P   G   C   Q   E   A   F   L   T   F CTC TGT GTG ATG TGT ATC TGC AGC CTG ATC GGT GCC ATG GCA 1848  L   C   V   M   C   I   C   S   L   I   G   A   M   A CAG ACA CCC TCA GTC ATC ATC CTC ATC AGG ACA GTC AGC CCT 1890  Q   T   P   S   V   I   I   L   I   R   T   V   S   P GAA CTC AAG TCT TAC GCT TTG GGA GTT CTT TTT CTC CTC CTT 1932  E   L   K   S   Y   A   L   G   V   L   F   L   L   L CGT TTG TTG GGC TTC ATC CCT CCA CCC CTC ATC TTC GGG GCT 1974  R   L   L   G   F   I   P   P   P   L   I   F   G   A GGC ATC GAC TCC ACC TGC CTG TTC TGG AGC ACG TTC TGT GGG 2016  G   I   D   S   T   C   L   F   W   S   T   F   C   G GAG CAA GGC GCC TGC GTC CTC TAC GAC AAT GTG GTC TAC CGA 2058  E   Q   G   A   C   V   L   Y   D   N   V   V   Y   R TAC CTG TAT GTC AGC ATC GCC ATC GCG CTC AAA TCC TTC GCC 2100  Y   L   Y   V   S   I   A   I   A   L   K   S   F   A TTC ATC CTG TAC ACC ACC ACG TGG CAG TGC CTG AGG AAA AAC 2142  F   I   L   Y   T   T   T   W   Q   C   L   R   K   N TAT AAA CGC TAC ATC AAA AAC CAC GAG GGC GGG CTG AGC ACC 2184  Y   K   R   Y   I   K   N   H   E   G   G   L   S   T AGT GAG TTC TTT GCC TCT ACT CTG ACC CTA GAC AAC CTG GGG 2226  S   E   F   F   A   S   T   L   T   L   D   N   L   G AGG GAC CCT GTG CCC GCA AAC CAG ACA CAT AGG ACA AAG TTT 2268  R   D   P   V   P   A   N   Q   T   H   R   T   K   F ATC TAT AAC CTG GAA GAC CAT GAG TGG TGT GAA AAC ATG GAG 2310  I   Y   N   L   E   D   H   E   W   C   E   N   M   E TCC GTT TTA TAG TGACTAAAGG AGGGCTGAAC TCTGTATTAG TAATCCAAGG 2362  S   V   L   * GTCATTTTTT TCTTAAAAAA AGAAAAAAAG GTTCCAAAAA AAACCAAAAC 2412 TCAGTACACA CACACAGGCA CAGATGCACA CACACGCAGA CAGACACACC 2462 GACTTTGTCC TTTTTCTCAG CATCAGAGCC AGACAGGATT CAGAATAAGG 2512 AGAGAATGAC ATCGTGCGGC AGGGTCCTGG AGGCCACTCG CGCGGCTGGG 2562 CCACAGAGTC TACTTTGAAG GCACCTCATG GTTTTCAGGA TGCTGACAGC 2612 TGCAAGCAAC AGGCACTGCC AAATTCAGGG AACAGTGGTG GCCAGCTTGG 2662 AGGATGGACA TTTCTGGATA CACATACACA TACAAAACAG AAAACATTTT 2712 TTAAAAGAAG TTTCCTAAAA TAAAAAAAAT AAAAAAAAAA AAAAA 2757 OATP-RP4 (SEQ ID NOS: 7 and 8) (Nucleotide 713, designated Y, can be either a C (in which case the encoded amino acid X is Leu) or a T (in which case the encoded amino acid X is Phe); Nucleotide 2397, designated K, can be either a G (in which case the encoded amino acid X is Gly) or a T (in which case the encoded amino acid X is Val): CTGATTTCTC TTCGGCTGGA CGGAGGCTGC CTCCTCACGC GGCTCCCAAC  50 TATTCCCGTA GCTCAGTGCC CCCCTCCCGC CGCTCTACTC AGCCAGGCAG  100 ACAGACTGAC AGACTCGCTA GTCGGCAGCT TCACTCCCGA GGGTGCCGCG  150 AGCCCAGGCG GCGAACACCC GGTACCCCTG GCGCAGCGAG GTGGGATGCT  200 GTACGGACAG CAGCGCTAAG TGCCCCCCCA CCCCCGGCGC AGGGTGCACT  250 CGCTCCTGGC CGCGGGCCCA GCGGCGGCGG CGGCGGCGGC GGCGGAGGGG  300 ATGAGCCCGG GACGCGCGAG GCGCCTGCCT CAAGCTACCG CCCGGAGAGG  350 GACGCCGAGT AGGGCTCATC GCAGTACCGC GCGGACCCCT GCCCCCTGTG  400 GCACGCGGCT GCGGAGCCTT GAAGCCGTGT CTGTGATCAG GATGCACTGG  450 GCGCCTCGCA GCTGGTGAGG ATGCCCTGCT GCGCGGCCCT GCGCCCCCAG  500 CCCCAGTCCC AGGTGGGCAA GACTGACTGG GCCCGGCTTC GGCCCCTCGT  550 GCCGGTGGAT GAAACGTGCC GGAGTGCTTG GGTGCCATCA GCTATCAAAT  600 CTGAATTCTA AGCGCC ATG GAC GAA GGC ACT GGA CTG GAG CCC GGG  646                    M   D   E   G   T   G   L   Q   P   G GCG GGA GAG CAG CTG GAG GCG CCG GCC ACT GCA GAA GCT GTC  688  A   G   E   Q   L   E   A   P   A   T   A   E   A   V CAA GAG AGG TGC GAG CCG GAG ACC YTC AGG TCT AAG AGT TTA  730  Q   E   R   C   E   P   E   T   X   R   S   K   S   L CCG GTC CTC AGC AGC GCC TCC TGC CGG CCA AGC CTC AGT CCC  772  P   V   L   S   S   A   S   C   R   P   S   L   S   P ACT AGT GGA GAC GCC AAC CCG GCC TTT GGC TGT GTG GAT TCT  814  T   S   G   D   A   N   P   A   F   G   C   V   D   S TCG GGC CAC CAG GAG TTG AAG CAA GGC CCG AAC CCG TTG GCC  856  S   G   H   Q   E   L   K   Q   G   P   N   P   L   A CCC AGT CCC TCT GCC CCG TCC ACT TCG GCG GGG CTC GGG GAC  898  P   S   P   S   A   P   S   T   S   A   G   L   G   D TGT AAC CAC AGG GTG GAC CTC AGC AAA ACC TTC TCG GTG TCC  940  C   N   H   R   V   D   L   S   K   T   F   S   V   S TCC GCC TTG GCC ATG CTC CAG GAG AGA AGG TGC CTC TAC GTG  982  S   A   L   A   M   L   Q   E   R   R   C   L   Y   V GTC CTC ACG GAT TCC CGT TGC TTC CTG GTG TGC ATG TGG TTT 1024  V   L   T   D   S   R   C   F   L   V   C   M   C   F CTG ACC TTC ATC GAG GCG TTA ATG GTC TCT GGG TAC CTG AGC 1066  L   T   F   I   Q   A   L   M   V   S   G   Y   L   S AGC GTA ATT ACC ACC ATT GAA AGG CGC TAC AGT CTG AAG AGT 1108  S   V   I   T   T   I   E   R   R   Y   S   L   K   S TCC GAG TCG GGG CTG CTG GTC AGC TGC TTT GAC ATC GGG AAC 1150  S   E   S   G   L   L   V   S   C   F   D   I   G   N CTG GTG GTG GTG GTG TTC GTC AGC TAC TTC GGC GGC CGG GGT 1192  L   V   V   V   V   F   V   S   Y   F   G   G   R   G CGG CGG CCC CTG TGG CTG GCC GTG GGT GGA CTC CTC ATC GCC 1234  R   R   P   L   W   L   A   V   G   G   L   L   I   A TTC GGG GCA GCC CTC TTC GCC TTA CCT CAC TTC ATC TCG CCC 1276  F   G   A   A   L   F   A   L   P   H   F   I   S   P CCC TAC CAG ATC CAA GAG TTG AAC GCC TCG GCC CCC AAC GAC 1318  P   Y   Q   I   Q   E   L   N   A   S   A   P   N   D GGC CTG TGT CAG GGT GGC AAC TCC ACC GCC ACT TTG GAG CCT 1360  G   L   C   Q   G   G   N   S   T   A   T   L   E   P CCG GCC TGT CCG AAG GAC TCG GGA GGA AAT AAT CAC TGG GTC 1402  P   A   C   P   K   D   S   G   G   N   N   H   W   V TAC CTG GCT TTA TTC ATT TGC GCG CAG ATT CTC ATT GGA ATG 1444  Y   L   A   L   F   I   C   A   Q   I   L   I   G   M GGC TCC ACA CCT ATT TAT ACC CTG GGA CCA ACC TAC TTA GAT 1486  G   S   T   P   I   Y   T   L   G   P   T   Y   L   D GAC AAT GTC AAG AAA GAA AAC TCC TCC TTG TAC CTA GCC ATC 1528  D   N   V   K   K   E   N   S   S   L   Y   L   A   I ATG TAT GTC ATG GGA GCA CTT GGC CCT GCA GTG GGA TAT TTA 1570  M   Y   V   M   G   A   L   G   P   A   V   G   Y   L TTA GGT GGA CTT CTT ATT GGT TTT TAT GTT GAT CCC AGA AAT 1612  L   G   G   L   L   I   G   F   Y   V   D   P   R   N CCT GTT CAC CTT GAC CAG AAT GAC CCT CGT TTC ATT GGA AAC 1654  P   V   H   L   D   Q   N   D   P   R   F   I   G   N TGG TGG AGT GGA TTC CTC CTT TGT GCC ATT GCA ATG TTT CTT 1696  W   W   S   G   F   L   L   C   A   I   A   M   F   L GTG ATA TTC CCA ATG TTT ACT TTC CCA AAA AAG CTT CCA CCT 1738  V   I   F   P   M   F   T   F   P   K   K   L   P   P CGA CAC AAG AAA AAG AAA AAG AAA AAA TTT TCT GTT GAT GCT 1780  R   H   K   K   K   K   K   K   K   F   S   V   D   A GTT AGT GAT GAC GAT GTT CTG AAG GAG AAA TCA AAC AAC AGT 1822  V   S   D   D   D   V   L   K   E   K   S   N   N   S GAA CAA GCG GAC AAA AAA GTT TCT TCG ATG GGA TTT GGA AAG 1864  E   Q   A   D   K   K   V   S   S   M   G   F   G   K GAT GTC AGA GAC CTA CCA AGA GCA GCT GTC AGG ATC TTA AGC 1906  D   V   R   D   L   P   R   A   A   V   R   I   L   S AAC ATG ACA TTC CTT TTT GTG AGT TTG TCA TAC ACA GCT GAG 1948  N   M   T   F   L   F   V   S   L   S   Y   T   A   E AGT GCC ATT GTA ACT GCT TTC ATT ACC TTC ATT CCC AAG TTC 1990  S   A   I   V   T   A   F   I   T   F   I   P   K   F ATC GAG TCA CAG TTT GGT ATC CCA GCC TCC AAT GCC AGC ATC 2032  I   E   S   Q   F   G   I   P   A   S   N   A   S   I TAC ACT GGG GTT ATT ATC GTC CCC AGT GCT GGT GTT GGT ATT 2074  Y   T   G   V   I   I   V   P   S   A   G   V   G   I GTC CTC GGA GGC TAC ATT ATA AAA AAA TTG AAA CTT GGT GCC 2116  V   L   G   G   Y   I   I   K   K   L   K   L   G   A AGA GAA TCT GCA AAA CTA GCA ATG ATC TGC AGT GGT GTG TCT 2158  R   E   S   A   K   L   A   M   I   C   S   G   V   S TTA CTA TGT TTT TCA ACC CTA TTT ATT GTT GGA TGT GAA AGC 2200  L   L   C   F   S   T   L   F   I   V   G   C   E   S ATT AAT CTA GGG GGC ATA AAC ATC CCT TAT ACA ACA GGA CCT 2242  I   N   L   G   G   I   N   I   P   Y   T   T   G   P TCT CTC ACC ATG CCC CAT AGG AAT CTG ACA GGA AGC TGC AAC 2284  S   L   T   M   P   H   R   N   L   T   G   S   C   N GTT AAT TGT GGT TGT AAA ATA CAC GAG TAT GAG CCA GTC TGT 2326  V   N   C   G   C   K   I   H   E   Y   E   P   V   C GGA TCA GAT GGA ATT ACA TAC TTT AAC CCT TGT CTG GCT GGC 2368  G   S   D   G   I   T   Y   F   N   P   C   L   A   G TGT GTT AAT AGT GGT AAT CTT AGC ACT GKG ATA CGG AAT TAT 2410  C   V   N   S   G   N   L   S   T   X   I   R   N   Y ACA GAA TGC ACC TGT GTC CAA AGT CGC CAA GTG ATC ACT CCA 2452  T   E   C   T   C   V   Q   S   R   Q   V   I   T   P CCC ACC GTG GGA CAG CGA AGT CAG CTC CGT GTG GTT ATT GTC 2494  P   T   V   G   Q   R   S   Q   L   R   V   V   I   V AAG ACT TAT CTC AAT GAG AAC GGC TAT GCT GTG TCT GGG AAA 2536  K   T   Y   L   N   E   N   G   Y   A   V   S   G   K TGT AAA CGG ACC TGC AAT ACT CTT ATC CCA TTC TTA GTT TTT 2578  C   K   R   T   C   N   T   L   I   P   F   L   V   F CTT TTC ATA GTC ACC TTC ATC ACA GCA TGT GCC CAA CCA TCA 2620  L   F   I   V   T   F   I   T   A   C   A   Q   P   S GCT ATC ATA GTA ACA CTC AGG TCC GTA GAA GAT GAG GAG AGA 2662  A   I   I   V   T   L   R   S   V   E   D   E   E   R CCT TTT GCA CTG GGA ATG CAG TTT GTT TTG TTG CGA ACA CTT 2704  P   F   A   L   G   M   Q   F   V   L   L   R   T   L GCA TAC ATT CCT ACT CCA ATC TAC TTT GGA GCA GTC ATT GAC 2746  A   Y   I   P   T   P   I   Y   F   G   A   V   I   D ACC ACC TGC ATG CTC TGG CAA CAG GAA TGT GGT GTG CAG GGT 2788  T   T   C   M   L   W   Q   Q   E   C   G   V   Q   G TCT TGC TGG GAG TAC AAC GTG ACG TCG TTT CGT TTT GTG TAT 2830  S   C   W   E   Y   N   V   T   S   F   R   F   V   Y TTT GGT TTG GCT GCC GGC CTC AAA TTC GTT GGG TTT ATT TTT 2872  F   G   L   A   A   G   L   K   F   V   G   F   I   F ATT TTT CTG GCC TGG TAC TCC ATA AAA TAC AAG GAG GAT GGA 2914  I   F   L   A   W   Y   S   I   K   Y   K   E   D   G CTG CAG AGG CGG AGG CAG AGA GAA TTT CCC CTG AGC ACC GTG 2956  L   Q   R   R   R   Q   R   E   F   P   L   S   T   V AGT GAG AGA GTG GGA CAC CCC GAC AAT GCC CGG ACT AGA TCT 2998  S   E   R   V   G   H   P   D   N   A   R   T   R   S TGC CCA GCT TTC AGC ACC CAG GGA GAA TTC CAC GAA GAG ACT 3040  C   P   A   F   S   T   Q   G   E   F   H   E   E   T GGC CTG CAA AAA GGG ATC CAG TGC GCA GCA CAG ACC TAC CCG 3082  G   L   Q   K   G   I   Q   C   A   A   Q   T   Y   P GGG CCC TTC CCA GAA GCA ATA AGT TCC TCT GCG GAC CCG GGG 3124  G   P   F   P   E   A   I   S   S   S   A   D   P   G CTG GAA GAG AGC CCC GCT GCC TTG GAG CCG CCC TCC TGA 3163  L   E   E   S   P   A   A   L   E   P   P   S   * AGCTTGAAAA TGGAAGAATT TAGTTTTGTT GGTTGAATTG AAAATGGCGA 3213 CTTGAGAAAC AACTGTGCCT TCTTTTCTTT CTTTCTTTTT TTTAACCTCT 3263 ACAGACACAA TCCTCAAACC AACAAAACTC AGTATACACA GCCGCTATTC 3313 ATTGAGGGCT GGATACCTCA ACAAGACTGA GAGCCTTTCC CCGCTTCTCT 3363 CCAAGAAGGA GACGTTCAGC TAGATTTGTT CCCATTTCCG TTGTGTTAAT 3413 TCAAAGCTCA TGCTCCCCTA CGGTACAGGC TGAGGTACAC GGTTAGCAAA 3463 ACCATGGGAA GGGGAATGGC GGTGCATATC ATTAACTAAC ACTCCAAACA 3513 AAGGTGAGCT TGCCCAGGAC TTGGCATTTC CAAATCAAAG TTTTTAGATA 3563 TGAACACCTA CTGTGAGTTC TGCTACAAAG CACAAATGAA TTTGTCTCAA 3613 CTATGCAATT TGATTGGAAA AATGTATGTG CAGCATGTTA CATTTACTTT 3663 CACGGAATAA AGCAGATATG TTTCTGAAA 3692 OATP-RP5 (SEQ ID NOS: 9 and 10): CGCAAAGAAA TGGCTCAAAA GCTTCAGCTC TTTCTGTGCC CTGGGAGCTG  50 AGATGCACGT CAGTGGCCTT GCCAGCGTGG CCAATTCTCT GCTGACTGCC  100 AGAAAAAAGA GGCCAGGAAG AAAGAGGAAA GAGAAGAGAT CGCTCAGGGG  150 TGAGACCATG CCCTTCATCT TTTCTTTTCC CTAATCTCCT CTGCTTGTGT  200 CCACCCACAC TCTCCCCACC TGGCAAAATT GTTCAAAATT GCTGTGGAGT  250 TTACCTCAGT TTCCTCTTTC AGTCTGTGGT GTGTGGTCCA TCCTCTTGCT  300 GAGCACATTG AAAGGAACTG GCTATCTTTG ATCTCTTCCT CCAGATCAGA  350 GTCAAGGAAT GTGTTTATA ATG GAC ACT TCA TCC AAA GAA AAT ATC  396                       M   D   T   S   S   K   E   N   I CAG TTG TTC TGC AAA ACT TCA GTG CAA CCT GTT GGA AGG CCT  438  Q   L   F   C   K   T   S   V   Q   P   V   G   R   P TCT TTT AAA ACA GAA TAT CCC TCC TCA GAA GAA AAG CAA CCA  480  S   F   K   T   E   Y   P   S   S   E   E   K   Q   P TGC TGT GGT GAA CTA AAG GTG TTC TTG TGT GCC TTG TCT TTT  522  C   C   G   E   L   K   V   F   L   C   A   L   S   F GTT TAC TTT GCC AAA GCA TTG GCA GAA GGC TAT CTG AAG AGC  564  V   Y   F   A   K   A   L   A   E   G   Y   L   K   S ACC ATC ACT CAG ATA GAG AGA AGG TTT GAT ATC CCT TCT TCA  606  T   I   T   Q   I   E   R   R   F   D   I   P   S   S CTG GTG GGA GTT ATT GAT GGT AGT TTT GAA ATT GGG AAT CTC  648  L   V   G   V   I   D   G   S   F   E   I   G   N   L TTA GTT ATA ACA TTT GTT AGC TAC TTT GGA GCC AAA CTT CAC  690  L   V   I   T   F   V   S   Y   F   G   A   K   L   H AGG CCA AAA ATA ATT GGA GCA GGG TGT GTA ATC ATG GGA GTT  732  R   P   K   I   I   G   A   G   C   V   I   M   G   V GGA ACA CTG CTC ATT GCA ATG CCT CAG TTC TTC ATG GAG CAG  774  G   T   L   L   I   A   M   P   Q   F   F   M   E   Q TAC AAA TAT GAG AGA TAT TCT CCT TCC TCC AAT TCC ACT CTC  816  Y   K   Y   E   R   Y   S   P   S   S   N   S   T   L AGC ATC TCT CCG TGT CTC CTA GAG TCA AGC AGT CAA TTA CCA  858  S   I   S   P   C   L   L   E   S   S   S   Q   L   P GTT TCA GTT ATG GAA AAA TCA AAA TCC AAA ATA AGT AAC GAA  900  V   S   V   M   E   K   S   K   S   K   I   S   N   E TGT GAA GTG GAC ACT AGC TCT TCC ATG TGG ATT TAT GTT TTC  942  C   E   V   D   T   S   S   S   M   W   I   Y   V   F CTG GGC AAT CTT CTT CGT GGA ATA GGA GAA ACT CCC ATT CAG  984  L   G   N   L   L   R   G   I   G   E   T   P   I   Q CCT TTG GGC ATT GCC TAC CTG GAT GAT TTT GCC AGT GAA GAC 1026  P   L   G   I   A   Y   L   D   D   F   A   S   E   D AAT GCA GCT TTC TAT ATT GGG TGT GTG CAG ACG GTT GCA ATT 1068  N   A   A   F   Y   I   G   C   V   Q   T   V   A   I ATA GGA CCA ATC TTT GGT TTC CTG TTA GGC TCA TTA TGT GCC 1110  I   G   P   I   F   G   F   L   L   G   S   L   C   A AAA CTA TAT GTT GAC ATT GGC TTT GTA AAC CTA GAT CAC ATA 1152  K   L   Y   V   D   I   G   F   V   N   L   D   H   I ACC ATT ACC CCA AAA GAT CCC CAG TGG GTA GGA GCC TGG TGG 1194  T   I   T   P   K   D   P   Q   W   V   G   A   W   W CTT GGC TAT CTA ATA GCA GGA ATC ATA AGT CTT CTT GCA GCT 1236  L   G   Y   L   I   A   G   I   I   S   L   L   A   A GTG CCT TTC TGG TAT TTA CCA AAG AGT TTA CCA AGA TCC CAA 1278  V   P   F   W   Y   L   P   K   S   L   P   R   S   Q AGT AGA GAG GAT TCT AAT TCT TCC TCT GAG AAA TCC AAG TTT 1320  S   R   E   D   S   N   S   S   S   E   K   S   K   F ATT ATA GAT GAT CAC ACA GAC TAC CAA ACA CCC CAG GGA GAA 1362  I   I   D   D   H   T   D   Y   Q   T   P   Q   G   E AAT GCA AAA ATA ATG GAA ATG GCA AGA GAT TTT CTT CCA TCA 1404  N   A   K   I   M   E   M   A   R   D   F   L   P   S CTG AAG AAT CTT TTT GGA AAC CCA GTA TAC TTC CTA TAT TTA 1446  L   K   N   L   F   G   N   P   V   Y   F   L   Y   L TGT ACA AGC ACT GTT CAG TTC AAT TCT CTG TTC GGC ATG GTG 1488  C   T   S   T   V   Q   F   N   S   L   F   G   M   V ACG TAC AAA CCA AAG TAC ATT GAG CAG CAG TAT GGA CAG TCA 1530  T   Y   K   P   K   Y   I   E   Q   Q   Y   G   Q   S TCC TCC AGG GCC AAC TTT GTG ATC GGG CTC ATC AAC ATT CCA 1572  S   S   R   A   N   F   V   I   G   L   I   N   I   P GCA GTG GCC CTT GGA ATA TTC TCT GGG GGG ATA GTT ATG AAA 1614  A   V   A   L   G   I   F   S   G   G   I   V   M   K AAA TTC AGA ATC AGT GTG TGT GGA GCT GCA AAA CTC TAC TTG 1656  K   F   R   I   S   V   C   G   A   A   K   L   Y   L GGA TCA TCT GTC TTT GGT TAC CTC CTA TTT CTT TCC CTG TTT 1698  G   S   S   V   F   G   Y   L   L   F   L   S   L   F GCA CTG GGC TGT GAA AAT TCT GAT GTG GCA GGA CTA ACT GTC 1740  A   L   G   C   E   N   S   D   V   A   G   L   T   V TCC TAC CAA GGA ACC AAA CCT GTC TCT TAT CAT GAA CGA GCT 1782  S   Y   Q   G   T   K   P   V   S   Y   H   E   R   A CTC TTT TCA GAT TGC AAC TCA AGA TGC AAA TGT TCA GAG ACA 1824  L   F   S   D   C   N   S   R   C   K   C   S   E   T AAA TGG GAA CCC ATG TGC GGT GAA AAT GGA ATC ACA TAT GTA 1866  K   W   E   P   M   C   G   E   N   G   I   T   Y   V TCA GCT TGT CTT GCT GGT TGT CAA ACC TCC AAC AGG AGT GGA 1908  S   A   C   L   A   G   C   Q   T   S   N   R   S   G AAA AAT ATT ATA TTT TAC AAC TGC ACT TGT GTG GGA ATT GCA 1950  K   N   I   I   F   Y   N   C   T   C   V   G   I   A GCT TCT AAA TCC GGA AAT TCC TCA GGC ATA GTG GGA AGA TGT 1992  A   S   K   S   G   N   S   S   G   I   V   G   R   C CAG AAA GAC AAT GGA TGT CCC CAA ATG TTT CTG TAT TTC CTT 2034  Q   K   D   N   G   C   P   Q   M   F   L   Y   F   L GTA ATT TCA GTC ATC ACA TCC TAT ACT TTA TCC CTA GGT GGC 2076  V   I   S   V   I   T   S   Y   T   L   S   L   G   G ATA CCT GGA TAC ATA TTA CTT CTG AGG TGC ATT AAG CCA CAG 2118  I   P   G   Y   I   L   L   L   R   C   I   K   P   Q CTT AAG TCT TTT GCC TTG GGT ATC TAC ACA TTA GCA ATA AGA 2160  L   K   S   F   A   L   G   I   Y   T   L   A   I   R GTT CTT GCA GGA ATC CCA GCT CCA GTG TAT TTT GGA GTT TTG 2202  V   L   A   G   I   P   A   P   V   Y   F   G   V   L ATT GAT ACT TCA TGC CTC AAA TGG GGA TTT AAA AGA TGT GGA 2244  I   D   T   S   C   L   K   W   G   F   K   R   C   G AGT AGA GGA TCA TGC AGA TTA TAT GAT TCA AAT GTC TTC AGA 2286  S   R   G   S   C   R   L   Y   D   S   N   V   F   R CAT ATA TAT TTG GGA CTA ACT GTG ATA CTG GGC ACA GTG TCA 2328  H   I   Y   L   G   L   T   V   I   L   G   T   V   S ATT CTC CTA AGC ATT GCA GTA CTT TTC ATT TTA AAG AAA AAT 2370  I   L   L   S   I   A   V   L   F   I   L   K   K   N TAT GTT TCA AAA CAC AGA AGT TTT ATA ACC AAG AGA GAA AGA 2412  Y   V   S   K   H   R   S   F   I   T   K   R   E   R ACA ATG GTG TCT ACA AGA TTC CAA AAG GAA AAT TAC ACT ACA 2454  T   M   V   S   T   R   F   Q   K   E   N   Y   T   T AGT GAT CAT CTG CTA CAA CCC AAC TAC TGG CCA GGC AAG GAA 2496  S   D   H   L   L   Q   P   N   Y   W   P   G   K   E ACT CAA CTT TAG AAACATGATG ACTGGAAGTC ATGTCTTCTA 2538  T   Q   L   * ATTGGTTGAC ATTTTGCAAA CAAATAAATT GTAATCAAAA GAGCTCTAAA 2588 TTTGTAATTT CTTTCTCCTT TCAAAAAATG TCTACTTTGT TTTGGTCCTA 2638 GGCATTAGGT AATATAACTG ATAATATACT GAAATATATA ATGGAAGATG 2688 CAGATGATAA AACTAATTTT GAACTTTTTA ATTTATATAA ATTATTTTAT 2738 ATCATTTACT TATTTCACTT TATTTTGCTT TGTGCTCATT GATATATATT 2788 AGCTGTACTC CTAGAAGAAC AATTGTCTCT ATTGTCACAC ATGGTTATAT 2838 TTAAAGTAAT TTCTGAACTG TGTAATGTGT CTAGAGTAAG CAAATACTGC 2888 TAACAATTAA CTCATACCTT GGGTTCCTTC AAGTATTACT CCTATAGTAT 2938 TTTCTCCCAT AGCTGTCTTC ATCTGTGTAT TTTAATAATG ATCTTAGGAT 2988 GGAGCAGAAC ATGGAGAGGA AGATTTCATT TTAAGCTCCT CCTTTTCCTT 3038 GAAATACAAT AATTTATATA GAAATGTGTA GCAGCAAATT ATATTGGGGA 3088 TTAGAATTTT GAATTAATAG CTCTCCTACT ATTAATTTAC ATGTGCTTTT 3138 TGTGTGGCGC TATAAGTGAC TATGGTTGTA AAGTAATAAA ATTGATGTTA 3188 ACATGCCCAA TTATTGTTCT TTTATGAATT CAATGAATTT AAAACTATTG 3238 TTAAATATAA TACTGCCCCA CTTTAATATA TGTAAGCAAC TTCCTACTTA 3288 TACACGACGT GTTCCTAAAA CATGTTTGAA AGGTGAATTT CTGAAAGTCT 3338 CCCATAAATG TAGGTGTTAC AACAGGAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAA 3381 OATP-RP1 (SEQ ID NOS: 11 and 12):                                    GGCACGAG GCGCTGCGCG  18 GCGCGGCGGC CGGGCCCTCG AGACGGGGAC GGACACACCA GCCCCTCGGA  68 TACCACTTGG CCACTCCCGC TGAGGCCACT CCCACTGCGT GGCTGAAGCC  118 TCGAGGTCAC CAGGCGGAGG CGCGGAG ATG CCC CTG CAT CAG CTG GGG  166                                M   P   L   H   Q   L   G GAC AAG CCG CTC ACC TTC CCC AGC CCC AAC TCA GCC ATG GAA  208  D   K   P   L   T   F   P   S   P   N   S   A   M   E AAC GGG CTT GAC CAC ACC CCA CCC AGC AGG AGG GCA TCC CCG  250  N   G   L   D   H   T   P   P   S   R   R   A   S   P GGC ACA CCC CTG AGC CCC GGG TCC CTC CGC TCC GCT GCC CAT  292  G   T   P   L   S   P   G   S   L   R   S   A   A   H AGC CCC CTG GAC ACC AGC AAG CAG CCC CTC TGC CAG CTC TGG  334  S   P   L   D   T   S   K   Q   P   L   C   Q   L   W GCC GAG AAG CAT GGC GCC CGG GGG ACC CAT GAG GTG CGG TAC  376  A   E   K   H   G   A   R   G   T   H   E   V   R   Y GTC TCG GCC GGG CAG AGC GTG GCG TGC GGC TGG TGG GCC TTC  418  V   S   A   G   Q   S   V   A   C   G   W   W   A   F GCA CCG CCG TGC CTG CAG GTC CTC AAC ACG CCC AAG GGC ATC  460  A   P   P   C   L   Q   V   L   N   T   P   K   G   I CTG TTC TTC CTG TGT GCG GCC GCA TTC CTG CAG GGG ATG ACT  502  L   F   F   L   C   A   A   A   F   L   Q   G   M   T GTG AAT GGC TTC ATC AAC ACA GTC ATC ACC TCC CTG GAG CGC  544  V   N   G   F   I   N   T   V   I   T   S   L   E   R CGC TAT GAC CTG CAC AGC TAC CAG AGC GGG CTC ATC GCC AGC  586  R   Y   D   L   H   S   Y   Q   S   G   L   I   A   S TCC TAC GAC ATT GCC GCC TGC CTC TGC CTC ACC TTC GTC AGC  628  S   Y   D   I   A   A   C   L   C   L   T   F   V   S TAC TTC GGG GGC TCA GGG CAC AAG CCG CGC TGG CTG GGC TGG  670  Y   F   G   G   S   G   H   K   P   R   W   L   G   W GGC GTG CTG CTT ATG GGC ACG GGG TCG CTG GTG TTC GCG CTG  712  G   V   L   L   M   G   T   G   S   L   V   F   A   L CCC CAC TTC ACG GCT GGC CGC TAT GAG GTG GAG TTG GAC GCG  754  P   H   F   T   A   G   R   Y   E   V   E   L   D   A GGT GTC AGG ACG TGC CCT GCC AAC CCC GGC GCG GTG TGT GCG  796  G   V   R   T   C   P   A   N   P   G   A   V   C   A GAC AGC ACC TCG GGC CTG TCC CGC TAC CAG CTG GTC TTC ATG  838  D   S   T   S   G   L   S   R   Y   Q   L   V   F   M CTG GGC CAG TTC CTG CAT GGC GTG GGT GCC ACA CCC CTC TAC  880  L   G   Q   F   L   H   G   V   G   A   T   P   L   Y ACG CTG GGC GTC ACC TAC CTG GAT GAG AAC GTC AAG TCC AGC  922  T   L   G   V   T   Y   L   D   E   N   V   K   S   S TGC TCG CCC GTC TAC ATT GCC ATC TTC TAC ACA GCG GCC ATC  964  C   S   P   V   Y   I   A   I   F   Y   T   A   A   I CTG GGC CCA GCT GCC GGC TAC CTG ATT GGA GGT GCC CTG CTG 1006  L   G   P   A   A   G   Y   L   I   G   G   A   L   L AAT ATC TAC ACG GAA ATG GGC CGA CGG ACG GAG CTG ACC ACC 1048  N   I   Y   T   E   M   G   R   R   T   E   L   T   T GAG AGC CCA CTG TGG GTC GGC GCC TGG TGG GTC GGC TTC CTG 1090  E   S   P   L   W   V   G   A   W   W   V   G   F   L GGC TCT GGG GCC GCT GCT TTC TTC ACC GCC GTT CCC ATC CTT 1132  G   S   G   A   A   A   F   F   T   A   V   P   I   L GGT TAC CCT CGG CAG CTG CCA GGC TCC CAG CGC TAC GCG GTC 1174  G   Y   P   R   Q   L   P   G   S   Q   R   Y   A   V ATG AGA GCG GCG GAA ATG CAC CAG TTG AAG GAC AGC AGC CGT 1216  M   R   A   A   E   M   H   Q   L   K   D   S   S   R GGG GAG GCG AGC AAC CCG GAC TTT GGG AAA ACC ATC AGA GAC 1258  G   E   A   S   N   P   D   F   G   K   T   I   R   D CTG CCT CTC TCC ATC TGG CTC CTG CTG AAG AAC CCC ACG TTC 1300  L   P   L   S   I   W   L   L   L   K   N   P   T   F ATC CTG CTC TGC CTG GCC GGG GCC ACC GAG GCC ACT CTC ATC 1342  I   L   L   C   L   A   G   A   T   E   A   T   L   I ACC GGC ATG TCC ACG TTC AGC CCC AAG TTC TTG GAG TCC CAG 1384  T   G   M   S   T   F   S   P   K   F   L   E   S   Q TTC AGC CTG AGT GCC TCA GAA GCT GCC ACC TTG TTT GGG TAC 1426  F   S   L   S   A   S   E   A   A   T   L   F   G   Y CTG GTG GTG CCA GCG GGT GGT GGC GGC ACC TTC CTG GGC GGC 1468  L   V   V   P   A   G   G   G   G   T   F   L   G   G TTC TTT GTG AAC AAG CTC AGG CTC CGG GGC TCC GCG GTC ATC 1510  F   F   V   N   K   L   R   L   R   G   S   A   V   I AAG TTC TGC CTG TTC TGC ACC GTT GTC AGC CTG CTG GGC ATC 1552  K   F   C   L   F   C   T   V   V   S   L   L   G   I CTC GTC TTC TCA CTG CAC TGC CCC AGT GTG CCC ATG GCG GGC 1594  L   V   F   S   L   H   C   P   S   V   P   M   A   G GTC ACA GCC AGC TAC GGC GGG AGC CTC CTG CCC GAA GGC CAC 1636  V   T   A   S   Y   G   G   S   L   L   P   E   G   H CTG AAC CTA ACG GCT CCC TGC AAC GCT GCC TGC AGC TGC CAG 1678  L   N   L   T   A   P   C   N   A   A   C   S   C   Q CCA GAA CAC TAC AGC CCT GTG TGC GGC TCG GAC GGC CTC ATG 1720  P   E   H   Y   S   P   V   C   G   S   D   G   L   M TAC TTC TCA CTG TGC CAC GCA GGG TGC CCT GCA GCC ACG GAG 1762  Y   F   S   L   C   H   A   G   C   P   A   A   T   E ACG AAT GTG GAC GGC CAG AAG GTG TAC CGA GAC TGT AGC TGT 1804  T   N   V   D   G   Q   K   V   Y   R   D   C   S   C ATC CCT CAG AAT CTT TCC TCT GGT TTT GGC CAT GCC ACT GCA 1846  I   P   Q   N   L   S   S   G   F   G   H   A   T   A GGG AAA TGC ACT TCA ACT TGT CAG AGA AAG CCC CTC CTT CTG 1888  G   K   C   T   S   T   C   Q   R   K   P   L   L   L GTT TTC ATA TTC GTT GTA ATT TTC TTT ACA TTC CTC AGC AGC 1930  V   F   I   F   V   V   I   F   F   T   F   L   S   S ATT CCT GCA CTA ACG GCA ACT CTA CGA TGT GTC CGT GAC CCT 1972  I   P   A   L   T   A   T   L   R   C   V   R   D   P CAG AGA TCC TTT GCC CTG GGA ATC CAG TGG ATT GTA GTT AGA 2014  Q   R   S   F   A   L   G   I   Q   W   I   V   V   R ATA CTA GGG GGC ATC CCG GGG CCC ATC GCC TTC GGC TGG GTG 2056  I   L   G   G   I   P   G   P   I   A   F   G   W   V ATC GAC AAG GCC TGT CTG CTG TGG CAG GAC CAG TGT GGG CAG 2098  I   D   K   A   C   L   L   W   Q   D   Q   C   G   Q CAG GGC TCC TGC TTG GTG TAC CAG AAT TCG GCC ATG AGC CGC 2140  Q   G   S   C   L   V   Y   Q   N   S   A   M   S   R TAC ATA CTC ATC ATG GGG CTC CTG TAC AAG GTG CTG GGC GTC 2182  Y   I   L   I   M   G   L   L   Y   K   V   L   G   V CTC TTC TTT GCC ATA GCC TGC TTC TTA TAC AAG CCC CTG TCG 2224  L   F   F   A   I   A   C   F   L   Y   K   P   L   S GAG TCT TCA GAT GGC CTG GAA ACT TGT CTG CCC AGC CAG TCC 2266  E   S   S   D   G   L   E   T   C   L   P   S   Q   S TCA GCC CCT GAC AGT GCC ACA GAT AGC CAG CTC CAG AGC AGC 2308  S   A   P   D   S   A   T   D   S   Q   L   Q   S   S GTC TGA CCACCGCCCG CGCCCACCCG GCCACGGCGG GCACTCAGCA 2354  V   * TTTCCTGATG ACAGAACAGT GCCGTTGGGT GATGCAATCA CACGGGAACT 2404 TCTATTTGAC CTGCAACCTT CTACTTAACC TGTGGTTTAA AGTCGGCTGT 2454 GACCTCCTGT CCCCAGAGCT GTACGGCCCT GCAGTGGGTG GGAGGAACTT 2504 GCATAAATAT ATATTTATGG ACACACAGTT TGCATCAGAA CGTGTTTATA 2554 GAATGTGTTT TATACCCGAT CGTGTGTGGT GTGCGTGAGG ACAAACTCCG 2604 CAGGGGCTGT GAATCCCACT GGGAGGGCGG CGGGCCTGCA GCCCGAGGAA 2654 GGCTTGTGTG TCCTCAGTTA AAACTGTGCA TATCGAAATA TATTTTGTTA 2704 TTTAAGCCTG CGAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA 2754 AAAAAAAAA 2763

[0077] Persons skilled in the art can also modify the nucleic acids coding for the OATPs of the present invention to prepare useful mutations. For example, one may modify the sequence to provide additional restriction endonuclease recognition sites in the nucleic acid. Such mutations may be silent or may change the amino acid encoded by the mutated codon. One can prepare these modified nucleic acids, for example, by mutating the nucleic acid coding for an OATP of the present invention to result in deletion, substitution, insertion, inversion or addition of one or more amino acids in the encoded polypeptide. For methods of site-directed mutagenesis, see Taylor, J. W. et al. (1985), Nucl. Acids Res. 13, 8749-64 and Kunkel, J. A. (1985), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82: 482-92. In addition, kits for site-directed mutagenesis are available from commercial vendors (e.g., BioRad Laboratories, Richmond, Calif.; Amersham Corp., Arlington Heights, Ill.). For disruption, deletion and truncation methods, see Sayers, J. R. et al. (1988), Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 791-800.

[0078] This invention also comprises modified nucleic acids, including (1) alternative splice exon variants; (2) allelic variants; and (3) chimeric proteins in which the fusion construct comprises an OATP or fragment thereof. Such modified nucleic acids can be obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art when armed with the present disclosure.

[0079] Expression Vectors

[0080] This invention further concerns expression vectors comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an OATP of the present invention. Preferably, the expression vectors comprise all or a portion of the nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO:11; preferred is a nucleotide sequence encoding an OATP as shown above (i.e., the coding region).

[0081] Expression vectors are usually plasmids, but the invention includes other vector forms that serve equivalent functions and become known in the art subsequently hereto. A person skilled in the art might also stably integrate a sequence encoding an OATP into the chromosome of an appropriate host cell.

[0082] Expression vectors typically contain regulatory elements capable of affecting expression of an OATP. These regulatory elements can be heterologous or native OATP elements. Typically, a vector contains an origin of replication, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence. The vector may also include other regulatory sequences, including mRNA stability sequences, which provide for stability of the expression product; secretory leader sequences, which provide for secretion of the expression product; environmental feedback sequences, which allow expression of the structural gene to be modulated (e.g., by the presence or absence of nutrients or other inducers in the growth medium); marking sequences, which are capable of providing phenotypic selection in transformed host cells; restriction sites, which provide sites for cleavage by restriction endonucleases; and sequences which allow expression in various types of hosts, including prokaryotes, yeasts, fungi, plants and higher eukaryotes.

[0083] An expression vector of this invention is at least capable of directing the replication, and preferably the expression, of the nucleic acids and protein of this invention. Suitable origins of replication include, for example, the Col El, the SV40 viral, Epstein Barr viral, and the M13 origins of replication. Suitable promoters include, for example, the cytomegalovirus promoter, the lacZ promoter, the gal10 promoter and the Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (ACMNPV) polyhedral promoter. Suitable termination sequences include, for example, the bovine growth hormone, SV40, lacZ and AcMNPV polyhedral polyadenylation signals. Examples of selectable markers include neomycin, ampicillin, and hygromycin resistance and the like.

[0084] Persons skilled in the art may insert DNA encoding An OATP of the present invention into several commercially available vectors. Examples include vectors compatible with mammalian cells, such as pcDNA3 or pCEP4; baculovirus vectors such as pBlueBac; prokaryotic vectors such as pcDNA2; and yeast vectors such as pYes2. For vector modification techniques, see Sambrook et al. (1989), Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

[0085] Host Cells

[0086] This invention additionally concerns host cells containing an expression vector that comprises a sequence encoding an OATP, preferably the OATP2, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4, OATP-RP5 or OATP-RP1 of the present invention. The host cells preferably contain an expression vector which comprises all or part of the DNA sequence having the nucleotide sequence substantially as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO:11, particularly the coding regions thereof. Suitable host cells include both prokaryotic cells (e.g., E. coli strains HB101, DH5a, XL1 Blue, Y1090 and JM101) and eukaryotic cells (e.g., Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells, CHO cells, COS-7 cells, HEK 293 cells, human skin fibroblasts, and S. cerevisiae cells).

[0087] Persons skilled in the art may introduce expression vectors into host cells by various methods known in the art. Exemplary methods are transfection by calcium phosphate precipitation, electroporation, liposomal fusion, nuclear injection, and viral or phage infection. One may then culture the host cell under conditions permitting expression of large amounts of OATP.

[0088] One may identify such modified host cells by any of five general approaches:

[0089] (a) DNA-DNA hybridization with probes complementary to the sequence encoding an OATP (Southern blotting).

[0090] (b) detection of marker gene functions, such as thymidine kinase activity, resistance to antibiotics, and the like. A marker gene can be placed in the same plasmid as an OATP sequence under the regulation of the same or a different promoter.

[0091] (c) detection of mRNA transcripts by hybridization assays (e.g., Northern blotting or a nuclease protection assay using a probe complementary to the RNA sequence).

[0092] (d) immunodetection of gene expression (e.g., by Western blotting with antibody to OATP).

[0093] (e) PCR with primers homologous to expression vector sequences or sequences encoding OATP. The PCR produces a DNA fragment of predicted length, indicating incorporation of the expression system in the host cell.

[0094] Persons skilled in the art may determine DNA sequences by various known methods. See, for example, the dideoxy chain termination method in Sanger et al. (1977), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74: 5463-7 and the Maxam-Gilbert method in Maxam-Gilbert (1977), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74: 560-4.

[0095] One may use the host cells of this invention in a variety of ways that are now apparent. One may use the cells to screen for compounds that bind to or otherwise modulate or regulate the function of an OATP of the present invention, which would be useful for modulation, for example activation or inactivation, of OATP2, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4, OATP-RP5 or OATP-RP1 activity; to study signal transduction mechanisms and protein-protein interactions; and to prepare OATP for the uses described below.

[0096] Not all expression vectors and DNA regulatory sequences will function equally well to express the DNA sequences of this invention. Neither will all host cells function equally well with the same expression system. However, one of ordinary skill in the art may make a selection among expression vectors, DNA regulatory sequences, and host cells using the guidance provided herein without undue experimentation and without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0097] Polypeptides

[0098] This invention further concerns polypeptides comprising all or a portion of the amino acid sequences of OATPs of the present invention. The inventors prefer polypeptides comprising all or a portion of the amino acid sequences shown as in SEQ ID NO:2 (OATP2), SEQ ID NO:4 (OATP-RP2), SEQ ID NO:6 (OATP-RP3), SEQ ID NO:8 (OATP-RP4), SEQ ID NO:10 (OATP-RP5) or SEQ ID NO:12 (OATP-RP1). Where a portion of an OATP of the present invention is used, preferably the portion exhibits the same biological activity of the OATP from which the portion is derived. For example, and within the scope of the invention, are polypeptides that comprise all or a portion of OATP2, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4, OATP-RP5 or OATP-RP1 that exhibit transport activity. The portions may contain one or more mutations so that the protein(s) fail(s) to exhibit transport activity, but that can be used to screen for compounds that will modulate or bind to the protein or portion thereof.

[0099] Persons having ordinary skill in the art may prepare these polypeptides by methods known in the art. For example, one may use chemical synthesis, such as the solid phase procedure described by Houghton et al. (1985), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82: 5131-5. Another method is in vitro translation of mRNA. One may also produce the polypeptides in the above-described host cells, which is the preferred method. For example, one may synthesize DNA comprising all or a portion of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO:11 by PCR as described above, insert the synthesized DNA into an expression vector, transform a host cell with the expression vector, and culture the host cell to produce the desired polypeptides.

[0100] Persons skilled in the art can isolate and purify such polypeptides by any one of several known techniques; for example, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and affinity chromatography. Such techniques may require modification of the protein. For example, one may add a histidine tag to the protein to enable purification on a nickel column.

[0101] Persons skilled in the art can use the polypeptides of the invention in a wide variety of ways. For example, one may use them to generate polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. One may then use such antibodies for immunodetection (e.g., radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, or immunocytochemistry), immunopurification (e.g., affinity chromatography) of polypeptides from various sources, or immunotherapy.

[0102] Persons skilled in the art may make modified OATP polypeptides by known techniques. Such modifications may cause higher or lower activity, permit higher levels of protein production, or simplify purification of the protein. Such modifications may help identify specific OATP amino acids involved in binding, which in turn may help rational drug design of OATP modulators. One can make amino acid substitutions based on similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved. For example, negatively charged amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid; positively charged amino acids include lysine and arginine; amino acids with uncharged polar head groups or nonpolar head groups having similar hydrophilicity values include the following: leucine, isoleucine, valine, glycine, alanine; asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; phenylalanine, tyrosine. All such modified polypeptides are included within the scope of the invention.

[0103] Preferred analogs include proteins that differ from the novel OATPs of the present invention (or biologically active fragments thereof) by one or more conservative amino acid substitutions or by one or more non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions which do not abolish the biological activity of the analog. Conservative substitutions typically include the substitution of one amino acid for another with similar characteristics, e.g., substitutions within the following groups: valine, glycine; glycine, alanine; valine, isoleucine, leucine; aspartic acid, glutamic acid; asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; lysine, arginine; and phenylalanine, tyrosine. Other conservative amino acid substitutions can be taken from the table below. TABLE 1 Conservative amino acid replacements For Amino Acid Code Replace with any of: Alanine A D-Ala, Gly, beta-Ala, L-Cys, D-Cys Arginine R D-Arg, Lys, D-Lys, homo-Arg, D-homo-Arg, Met, Ile, D-Met, D-Ile, Orn, D-Orn Asparagine N D-Asn, Asp, D-Asp, Glu, D-Glu, Gln, D-Gln Aspartic Acid D D-Asp, D-Asn, Asn, Glu, D-Glu, Gln, D-Gln Cysteine C D-Cys, S-Me-Cys, Met, D-Met, Thr, D-Thr Glutamine Q D-Gln, Asn, D-Asn, Glu, D-Glu, Asp, D-Asp Glutamic Acid E D-Glu, D-Asp, Asp, Asn, D-Asn, Gln, D-Gln Glycine G Ala, D-Ala, Pro, D-Pro, β-Ala, Acp Isoleucine I D-Ile, Val, D-Val, Leu, D-Leu, Met, D-Met Leucine L D-Leu, Val, D-Val, Met, D-Met Lysine K D-Lys, Arg, D-Arg, homo-Arg, D-homo-Arg, Met, D-Met, Ile, D-Ile, Orn, D-Orn Methionine M D-Met, S-Me-Cys, Ile, D-Ile, Leu, D-Leu, Val, D-Val Phenylalanine F D-Phe, Tyr, D-Thr, L-Dopa, His, D-His, Trp, D-Trp, Trans-3,4, or 5-phenylproline, cis-3,4, or 5-phenylproline Proline P D-Pro, L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid Serine S D-Ser, Thr, D-Thr, allo-Thr, Met, D-Met, Met(O), D-Met(O), L-Cys, D-Cys Threonine T D-Thr, Ser, D-Ser, allo-Thr, Met, D-Met, Met(O), D-Met(O), Val, D-Val Tyrosine Y D-Tyr, Phe, D-Phe, L-Dopa, His, D-His Valine V D-Val, Leu, D-Leu, Ile, D-Ile, Met, D-Met

[0104] Other analogs within the invention are those with modifications which increase protein or peptide stability; such analogs may contain, for example, one or more non-peptide bonds (which replace the peptide bonds) in the protein or peptide sequence. Also included are analogs that include residues other than naturally occurring L-amino acids, e.g., D-amino acids or non-naturally occurring or synthetic amino acids, e.g., β or γ amino acids.

[0105] The inventors contemplate a number of other variations of the above-described polypeptides. Such variations include salts and esters of the polypeptides, as well as precursors of the aforementioned polypeptides (e.g., having N-terminal substituents such as methionine, N-formylmethionine and leader sequences). The invention includes all such variations.

[0106] Method for Detecting Nucleic Acids

[0107] The present invention further concerns a method for detecting nucleic acids encoding OATP proteins. In this method, a person of ordinary skill in the art (a) contacts nucleic acids of unknown sequence with a nucleic acid having a sequence complementary to a known coding sequence (e.g., a sequence of at least about 10 nucleotides from, e.g., SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO:11, particularly the coding regions thereof), wherein the latter nucleic acid has a detectable marker; and (b) determines the presence of marker bound to any of the nucleic acids of unknown sequence. The presence of bound marker indicates the presence of the desired nucleic acids. One can apply this method to detect OATP nucleic acids from other tissues (which may have different regulatory elements) and nucleic acids from other species (e.g., monkey).

[0108] Persons of ordinary skill in the art generally know how to obtain nucleic acids to be analyzed in this method. For genomic DNA, one can rapidly freeze tissue, crush the tissue into readily digestible pieces, and incubate the crushed tissue in proteinase K and SDS to degrade most cellular proteins. One can then deproteinize the genomic DNA by successive phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol extractions, recover DNA by ethanol precipitation, dry it and resuspend it in buffer. For RNA, one can lyse cultured cells in 4M guanidinium solution, draw the lysate through a 20-gauge needle, pellet the RNA through a cesium chloride step gradient, and remove the supernatant. The pellet should contain purified RNA.

[0109] The detectable marker may be a radioactive ion linked to one of the nucleotides of the complementary nucleic acid. Common radioactive labels are ³²P and ³⁵S, although one may also use other labels such as biotin. Persons skilled in the art are aware of various methods to attach the labels to the complementary nucleic acid (e.g., the random primer method for attachment of ³²P or ³⁵S).

[0110] Persons of ordinary skill in the art generally know how to carry out such a method of detecting nucleic acids. For example, one may perform a Southern or northern blot using a radiolabeled OATP complementary oligonucleotide probe. One can then detect hybridization by autoradiography. Depending on the marker, one may also use other detection methods (e.g., spectrophotometry).

[0111] Methods for Detecting OATP Modulators and Compounds Transported by the OATPs of the Present Invention

[0112] This invention further concerns methods for detecting modulators of the OATPs of the present invention, as well as methods for detecting compounds that are transported by the OATPs of the present invention (e.g., compounds that are transported into the liver that may be used as carriers for other compounds). A screen for OATP modulators entails detecting binding of molecules (e.g., polypeptides, natural products, synthetic compounds) in cells expressing OATP protein. Alternatively, a screen for OATP positive modulators and/or negative modulators entails detecting the augmentation and/or inhibition of transport of a known compound. A screen for OATP-transported compounds entails detecting the transport of molecules (e.g., polypeptides, natural products, synthetic compounds) by an OATP.

[0113] Cloning and sequencing of the OATPs of the present invention enables construction of cells useful in screening for natural products and synthetic compounds that bind to, modulate, and/or are transported by OATP activity. A process for detecting OATP modulators requires transforming a suitable vector into compatible host cells as described previously herein. One treats such transformed cells with test substances (e.g., synthetic compounds or natural products), and then measures activity in the presence and absence of the test substance.

[0114] OATP Assay

[0115] An assay for the measurement of OATP activity is performed as follows: HEK293 cells are plated in Dulbeccos Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM) plus 10% fetal bovine serum plus penecillin and streptomycin, in poly-d-lysine coated dishes and co-transfected with OATP transporter expression plasmids using Lipofectamine Plus (Life Technologies, Inc.). The cells and media are assayed for substrate transport 24 hours later. Alternatively, cell lines engineered to stably express OATPs could be plated and assayed directly without transfection. To measure transport, media is removed and monolayers are assayed in triplicate by washing once in serum-free DMEM and adding the same medium containing [³H]-substrate alone or in the presence of various concentrations of unlabeled test compounds. For OATP2, the [H]-substrate could be [H]-pravastatin, [H]-taurocholate, or [H]-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, or [¹²⁵I]-thyroid hormone (T4). Monolayers are incubated at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes depending on the transporter. Then the cells are rapidly washed once with ice cold DMEM containing 5% BSA, twice with DMEM plus 0.1% BSA and once with DMEM alone. Cells are lysed in 0.1 N NaOH and a fraction of the lysate is used to determine radiolabel incorporation by liquid scintillation counting, and another is used to determine protein concentration in the lysate using the Bradford assay with BSA as a standard. The transport activity is expressed as moles of substrate transported into cells/mg of cell protein/minute.

[0116] Drug Targeting

[0117] Also included within the present invention is tissue expression of an OATP of the present invention. The OATPs of the present invention are also useful for targeting drugs to certain organs that express an OATP described herein (e.g., the liver), and for modulating the concentration of endogenous substrates.

[0118] For example, the novel organic anion transporter disclosed herein, OATP2, represents a potential therapeutic target due to its ability to modulate the cellular uptake and potential secretion of a several biologically important organic anions, including bile acids and the androgen hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (“DHEAS”). Furthermore, since OATP2 transports at least one drug (i.e. pravastatin), and other members of this family are known to transport a variety of other xenobiotics, this transporter could be exploited to optimize the delivery of drugs into liver and away from other tissues.

[0119] OATP2 is unique among the OATP family, in that it is the only known organic anion transporter that is expressed exclusively in the liver. Thus, drugs optimized for this transporter could be targeted for hepatic delivery with greater selectivity than with any other known transporter. To generalize this approach, it may be possible to identify a small molecule “adaptor” that is efficiently recognized and transported by OATP2 (an OATP2-transported compound) that could be appended to other drugs for hepatic targeting even if the parent compound is not transported by OATP2.

[0120] Alternatively, if a therapeutic compound is taken up into the liver entirely or substantially by OATP2, one could inhibit hepatic clearance and thereby elevate circulating concentrations, or increase the compounds half-life in the periphery, by adding a functionality to said compound that disallows transport by OATP2. Likewise, if an endogenous substance utilizes OATP2 for liver uptake and clearance from the circulation, a competitive or non-competitive OATP2 inhibitor could elevate plasma levels of said substance. As an example, DHEAS is an adrenal androgen that declines with age and on the basis of some animal data, it has been suggested that replacement of DHEAS deficiency may stimulate age-related immune deficiencies, increase cognitive function and insulin sensitivity, and maintain bone mass. Inhibiting the hepatic clearance of endogenous DHEAS through blocking its interactions with OATP2 could result in elevated hormone levels in the absence of hormone supplementation.

[0121] With the information provided herein, one skilled in the art is able to identify molecules, both naturally occurring and synthetic (including therapeutic drugs), that are transported by the OATPs, e.g., OATP2, disclosed herein. OATPs as a class generally exhibit broad substrate specificity (“polyspecific” transporters). Thus, it is anticipated that many additional substrates of these transporters will be identified.

[0122] Gene Therapy

[0123] Persons skilled in the art can also use sense and antisense nucleic acid molecules as therapeutic agents for OATP-related indications. One may construct vectors that direct the synthesis of the desired DNA or RNA or formulate the nucleic acid as described in the art.

[0124] Several references describe the usefulness of antisense molecule. See Toulme and Helene (1988), Gene 72: 51-8; Inouye (1988), Gene, 72: 25-34; Uhlmann and Peyman (1990), Chemical Reviews 90: 543-584; Biotechnology Newswatch (Jan. 15, 1996), p. 4; Robertson, Nature Biotechnology 15: 209 (1997); Gibbons and Dzau (1996), Science 272: 689-93. One can design them based on genomic DNA and/or cDNA, 5′ and 3′ flanking control regions, other flanking sequences, intron sequences, and nonclassic Watson and Crick base pairing sequences used in formation of triplex DNA. Such antisense molecules include antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides, oligoribonucleotides, oligonucleotide analogues, and the like, and may comprise at least about 15 to 25 bases.

[0125] Antisense molecules may bind noncovalently or covalently to the OATP DNA or RNA. Such binding could, for example, cleave or facilitate cleavage of OATP DNA or RNA, increase degradation of nuclear or cytoplasmic mRNA, or inhibit transcription, translation, binding of transactivating factors, or pre-mRNA splicing or processing. Antisense molecules may also contain additional functionalities that increase stability, transport into and out of cells, binding affinity, cleavage of the target molecule, and the like. All of these effects would decrease expression of OATP protein and thus make the antisense molecules useful as OATP modulators.

EXAMPLES

[0126] The following examples are included for understanding the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of Applicants invention, which is defined solely by the claims.

Example 1 Isolation of OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4 and OATP-RP5 Full Length cDNAs and Cloning into Mammalian Expression Vectors

[0127] Human OATP2 was identified by searching the public EST databases for sequences homologous to human OATP. One EST sequence, Genbank accession number T73863, encoded a partial cDNA with significant sequence identity with OATP. EST sequences encoding partial cDNAs for OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP3, OATP-RP4, and OATP-RP5 were identified by searching the public EST databases and the Incyte, Inc. EST database for sequences homologous to human OATP. The EST clone IDs corresponding to OATP-RP1 are 820117, 2668489, 1610706, 2972518, and 588148. These clones represent a contig encoding only part of the full length cDNA. The Incyte EST clone IDs corresponding to OATP-RP2 are 1664737 and 2641944. These clones represent a contig encoding only part of the full length cDNA. The Incyte EST clone IDs corresponding to OATP-RP3 are 2493241, 2497845, and 2664024. These clones represent a contig encoding only part of the full length cDNA. The Incyte EST clone IDs corresponding to OATP-RP4 are 1494683 and 1685219. These clones represent a contig encoding only part of the full length cDNA. The Incyte EST clone ID corresponding to OATP-RP5 is 925716. This clone encodes only part of the full length cDNA. Full length clones for each of the above genes were obtained using the Gene Trapper cDNA Positive Selection System (LifeTechnologies, Inc.). In this procedure, a single or multiple oligonucleotides complementary to each of the EST contigs or individual EST sequences, were biotinylated at the 3′-end and used to hybridize to a single-stranded human cDNA library constructed in pCMVSport2 (LifeTechnologies, Inc.). The sequence of oligonucleotides used for each gene as well as the tissue source of the libraries screened are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Oligonucleotides used to screen for OATP Full length cDNAs using Gene-Trapper Selection Seq ID number Human cDNA of library Gene Biotinylated capture oligonucleotide(s) used oligonucleotide screened OATP2 5′-ACCCTGTCTAGCAGGTTGCA-3′ 13 liver OATP-RP1 5′-CTGTCGGAGTCTTCAGATG-3′ 14 brain OATP-RP2 5′-TCCATCACAGCCTCCTACGC-3′ 15 liver OATP-RP3 5′-TGCCTCTACTCTGACCCTAG-3′ 16 heart OATP-RP4 5′-GGAGCAGTCATTGACACCAC-3′ 17 heart 5′-TGCTGGGAGTACAACGTGACG-3′ 18 5′-ACAAGGAGGATGGACTGCAG-3′ 19 OATP-RP5 5′-CAGGAATCCCAGCTCCAGTG-3′ 20 brain 5′-GCTACAACCCAACTACTGGC-3′ 21 5′-GGGACTAACTGTGATACTGG-3′ 22

[0128] Hybrids between the biotinylated oligonucleotides and single-stranded cDNA were captured on streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads. After washing, the captured single-stranded cDNA targets was released from the biotinylated oligonucleotides and converted to dsDNA by DNA polymerase using the corresponding unbiotinylated oligonucleotide. Following transformation and plating, several positive clones for each gene were identified by PCR analysis. Full-length cDNA clones were identified by sequencing. In the case of OATP-RP1, a partial cDNA was obtained by the above technique (pSP-RP1A). Another cDNA clone that was part of the OATP-RP1 contig was identified by searching the public EST databases (Genbank accession number A1027850). An EcoRI-NotI fragment of this clone containing the first 477 nucleotides of OATP-RP1 (SEQ ID NO:11) (obtained from Research Genetics, Inc.) was ligated to EcoRI-Not I digested pSP-RP1A to generate the full length sequence.

[0129] Two polymorphic positions were identified when sequencing multiple OATP-RP4 cDNA clones. Thus, nucleotide number 713 of SEQ ID NO:7 can be either a C, encoding Leu in SEQ ID NO:8, or a T, encoding a Phe in SEQ ID NO:8. Similarly, nucleotide number 2397 of SEQ ID NO:7 can be either a G, encoding a Gly in SEQ ID NO:8, or a T, encoding a Val in SEQ ID NO:8.

[0130] For expression studies, OATP2 cDNA was cloned into the expression vector pCEP4βR, a modified form of pCEP4 (Invitrogen, Inc.) in which the CMV promoter-driven expression cassette has been inverted, and used in transient transfections. To accomplish this, OATP2 cDNA in pCMVSport2, correponding to nucleotides 59 through 2361 of SEQ ID NO:1, was excised by digestion with KpnI and NotI. This fragment was cloned into KpnI-NotI digested pCEP4βR. This clone, pCEP-OATP2 was used for transient transfection expression studies.

Example 2 Tissue and Cellular Distribution of OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP4, and OATP-RP5

[0131] The tissue distribution of OATP2, OATP-RP1, OATP-RP2, OATP-RP4, and OATP-RP5 expression was determined by Northern blotting of poly A+ RNA from a variety of human tissues (FIG. 1). Transporters of this family previously described in the literature, namely human OATP, rat oatp1, rat oatp2 and rat oatp3, are all expressed in liver, kidney and brain. All of the above transport bile acids as well as a variety of other substrates that are specific for subsets of these transporters. In contrast, the expression of OATP2, which also transports bile acids, is very hepato-specific; a major 3.2 kb and several minor hybridizing bands were observed only in RNA from liver and no other tissue. The specific cell types that express this transporter were examined by in situ hybridization of OATP2 riboprobe to human liver samples. Strong hybridization signal was seen localized to hepatocytes throughout the liver lobule with no significant difference in signal intensity among centrilobular, midzonal or periportal regions. No signal was observed in bile ducts, Kupffer cells, or blood vessels, nor in any cell types from human lung (data not shown).

[0132] OATP-RP1 is expressed in nearly all tissues tested with highest abundance in skeletal muscle, lung, placenta, and heart. OATP-RP2 is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues tested. OATP-RP4 has a much more restricted pattern of expression with abundant transcipts in skeletal muscle and heart and much less in prostate and thymus. The expression of OATP-RP5 is likewise tissue specific, with brain and testes being the only sites where transcripts were detected.

Example 3 Expression of OATP2 in Transfected Cells

[0133] 293EBNA cells (Invitrogen, Inc.), an HEK293 cell derivative, were transiently transfected with the OATP2 expression vector pCEP-OATP2, or the pCEP4 vector alone (MOCK) and the transport of [³H]-labeled substrates was determined 24 hours later. FIG. 2A shows specific uptake of [³H]-pravastatin and [³H]-DHEAS. FIGS. 2B and 2C show the specific uptake of [³H]-taurocholate and [125I]-thyroid hormone (T4), repsectively. The uptake of radiolabeled substrate for 5 minutes into cells transfected with pCEP-OATP2 or empty vector (MOCK) was determined in the absence (solid bars) and presence (open bars) of excess unlabeled substrate. Thus, OATP2 is a liver specific human transporter of at least some HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, bile acids, adrenal steroids, and thyroid hormone.

1 22 1 2830 DNA Homo sapiens 1 cggacgcgtg ggcggacgcg tgggtcgccc acgcgtccga cttgttgcag ttgctgtagg 60 attctaaatc caggtgattg tttcaaactg agcatcaaca acaaaaacat ttgtatgata 120 tctatatttc aatcatggac caaaatcaac atttgaataa aacagcagag gcacaacctt 180 cagagaataa gaaaacaaga tactgcaatg gattgaagat gttcttggca gctctgtcac 240 tcagctttat tgctaagaca ctaggtgcaa ttattatgaa aagttccatc attcatatag 300 aacggagatt tgagatatcc tcttctcttg ttggttttat tgacggaagc tttgaaattg 360 gaaatttgct tgtgattgta tttgtgagtt actttggatc caaactacat agaccaaagt 420 taattggaat cggttgtttc attatgggaa ttggaggtgt tttgactgct ttgccacatt 480 tcttcatggg atattacagg tattctaaag aaactaatat cgattcatca gaaaattcaa 540 catcgacctt atccacttgt ttaattaatc aaattttatc actcaataga gcatcacctg 600 agatagtggg aaaaggttgt ttaaaggaat ctgggtcata catgtggata tatgtgttca 660 tgggtaatat gcttcgtgga ataggggaga ctcccatagt accattgggg ctttcttaca 720 ttgatgattt cgctaaagaa ggacattctt ctttgtattt aggtatattg aatgcaatag 780 caatgattgg tccaatcatt ggctttaccc tgggatctct gttttctaaa atgtacgtgg 840 atattggata tgtagatcta agcactatca ggataactcc tactgattct cgatgggttg 900 gagcttggtg gcttaatttc cttgtgtctg gactattctc cattatttct tccataccat 960 tctttttctt gccccaaact ccaaataaac cacaaaaaga aagaaaagct tcactgtctt 1020 tgcatgtgct ggaaacaaat gatgaaaagg atcaaacagc taatttgacc aatcaaggaa 1080 aaaatattac caaaaatgtg actggttttt tccagtcttt taaaagcatc cttactaatc 1140 ccctgtatgt tatgtttgtg cttttgacgt tgttacaagt aagcagctat attggtgctt 1200 ttacttatgt cttcaaatac gtagagcaac agtatggtca gccttcatct aaggctaaca 1260 tcttattggg agtcataacc atacctattt ttgcaagtgg aatgttttta ggaggatata 1320 tcattaaaaa attcaaactg aacaccgttg gaattgccaa attctcatgt tttactgctg 1380 tgatgtcatt gtccttttac ctattatatt ttttcatact ctgtgaaaac aaatcagttg 1440 ccggactaac catgacctat gatggaaata atccagtgac atctcataga gatgtaccac 1500 tttcttattg caactcagac tgcaattgtg atgaaagtca atgggaacca gtctgtggaa 1560 acaatggaat aacttacatc tcaccctgtc tagcaggttg caaatcttca agtggcaata 1620 aaaagcctat agtgttttac aactgcagtt gtttggaagt aactggtctc cagaacagaa 1680 attactcagc ccatttgggt gaatgcccaa gagatgatgc ttgtacaagg aaattttact 1740 tttttgttgc aatacaagtc ttgaatttat ttttctctgc acttggaggc acctcacatg 1800 tcatgctgat tgttaaaatt gttcaacctg aattgaaatc acttgcactg ggtttccact 1860 caatggttat acgagcacta ggaggaattc tagctccaat atattttggg gctctgattg 1920 atacaacgtg tataaagtgg tccaccaaca actgtggcac acgtgggtca tgtaggacat 1980 ataattccac atcattttca agggtctact tgggcttgtc ttcaatgtta agagtctcat 2040 cacttgtttt atatattata ttaatttatg ccatgaagaa aaaatatcaa gagaaagata 2100 tcaatgcatc agaaaatgga agtgtcatgg atgaagcaaa cttagaatcc ttaaataaaa 2160 ataaacattt tgtcccttct gctggggcag atagtgaaac acattgttaa ggggagaaaa 2220 aaagccactt ctgcttctgt gtttccaaac agcattgcat tgattcagta agatgttatt 2280 tttgaggagt tcctggtcct ttcactaaga atttccacat cttttatggt ggaagtataa 2340 ataagcctat gaacttataa taaaacaaac tgtaggtaga aaaaatgaga gtactcattg 2400 ttacattata gctacatatt tgtggttaag gttagactat atgatccata caaattaaag 2460 tgagagacat ggttactgtg taataaaaga aaaaatactt gttcaggtaa ttctaattct 2520 taataaaaca aatgagtatc atacaggtag aggttaaaaa ggaggagcta gattcatatc 2580 ctaagtaaag agaaatgcct agtgtctatt ttattaaaca aacaaacaca gagtttgaac 2640 tataatacta aggcctgaag tctagcttgg atatatgcta caataatatc tgttactcac 2700 ataaaattat atatttcaca gactttatca atgtataatt aacaattatc ttgtttaagt 2760 aaatttagaa tacatttaag tattgtggaa gaaataaaga cattccaata tttgcaaaaa 2820 aaaaaaaaaa 2830 2 691 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Asp Gln Asn Gln His Leu Asn Lys Thr Ala Glu Ala Gln Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Glu Asn Lys Lys Thr Arg Tyr Cys Asn Gly Leu Lys Met Phe Leu Ala 20 25 30 Ala Leu Ser Leu Ser Phe Ile Ala Lys Thr Leu Gly Ala Ile Ile Met 35 40 45 Lys Ser Ser Ile Ile His Ile Glu Arg Arg Phe Glu Ile Ser Ser Ser 50 55 60 Leu Val Gly Phe Ile Asp Gly Ser Phe Glu Ile Gly Asn Leu Leu Val 65 70 75 80 Ile Val Phe Val Ser Tyr Phe Gly Ser Lys Leu His Arg Pro Lys Leu 85 90 95 Ile Gly Ile Gly Cys Phe Ile Met Gly Ile Gly Gly Val Leu Thr Ala 100 105 110 Leu Pro His Phe Phe Met Gly Tyr Tyr Arg Tyr Ser Lys Glu Thr Asn 115 120 125 Ile Asp Ser Ser Glu Asn Ser Thr Ser Thr Leu Ser Thr Cys Leu Ile 130 135 140 Asn Gln Ile Leu Ser Leu Asn Arg Ala Ser Pro Glu Ile Val Gly Lys 145 150 155 160 Gly Cys Leu Lys Glu Ser Gly Ser Tyr Met Trp Ile Tyr Val Phe Met 165 170 175 Gly Asn Met Leu Arg Gly Ile Gly Glu Thr Pro Ile Val Pro Leu Gly 180 185 190 Leu Ser Tyr Ile Asp Asp Phe Ala Lys Glu Gly His Ser Ser Leu Tyr 195 200 205 Leu Gly Ile Leu Asn Ala Ile Ala Met Ile Gly Pro Ile Ile Gly Phe 210 215 220 Thr Leu Gly Ser Leu Phe Ser Lys Met Tyr Val Asp Ile Gly Tyr Val 225 230 235 240 Asp Leu Ser Thr Ile Arg Ile Thr Pro Thr Asp Ser Arg Trp Val Gly 245 250 255 Ala Trp Trp Leu Asn Phe Leu Val Ser Gly Leu Phe Ser Ile Ile Ser 260 265 270 Ser Ile Pro Phe Phe Phe Leu Pro Gln Thr Pro Asn Lys Pro Gln Lys 275 280 285 Glu Arg Lys Ala Ser Leu Ser Leu His Val Leu Glu Thr Asn Asp Glu 290 295 300 Lys Asp Gln Thr Ala Asn Leu Thr Asn Gln Gly Lys Asn Ile Thr Lys 305 310 315 320 Asn Val Thr Gly Phe Phe Gln Ser Phe Lys Ser Ile Leu Thr Asn Pro 325 330 335 Leu Tyr Val Met Phe Val Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Gln Val Ser Ser Tyr 340 345 350 Ile Gly Ala Phe Thr Tyr Val Phe Lys Tyr Val Glu Gln Gln Tyr Gly 355 360 365 Gln Pro Ser Ser Lys Ala Asn Ile Leu Leu Gly Val Ile Thr Ile Pro 370 375 380 Ile Phe Ala Ser Gly Met Phe Leu Gly Gly Tyr Ile Ile Lys Lys Phe 385 390 395 400 Lys Leu Asn Thr Val Gly Ile Ala Lys Phe Ser Cys Phe Thr Ala Val 405 410 415 Met Ser Leu Ser Phe Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Phe Phe Ile Leu Cys Glu Asn 420 425 430 Lys Ser Val Ala Gly Leu Thr Met Thr Tyr Asp Gly Asn Asn Pro Val 435 440 445 Thr Ser His Arg Asp Val Pro Leu Ser Tyr Cys Asn Ser Asp Cys Asn 450 455 460 Cys Asp Glu Ser Gln Trp Glu Pro Val Cys Gly Asn Asn Gly Ile Thr 465 470 475 480 Tyr Ile Ser Pro Cys Leu Ala Gly Cys Lys Ser Ser Ser Gly Asn Lys 485 490 495 Lys Pro Ile Val Phe Tyr Asn Cys Ser Cys Leu Glu Val Thr Gly Leu 500 505 510 Gln Asn Arg Asn Tyr Ser Ala His Leu Gly Glu Cys Pro Arg Asp Asp 515 520 525 Ala Cys Thr Arg Lys Phe Tyr Phe Phe Val Ala Ile Gln Val Leu Asn 530 535 540 Leu Phe Phe Ser Ala Leu Gly Gly Thr Ser His Val Met Leu Ile Val 545 550 555 560 Lys Ile Val Gln Pro Glu Leu Lys Ser Leu Ala Leu Gly Phe His Ser 565 570 575 Met Val Ile Arg Ala Leu Gly Gly Ile Leu Ala Pro Ile Tyr Phe Gly 580 585 590 Ala Leu Ile Asp Thr Thr Cys Ile Lys Trp Ser Thr Asn Asn Cys Gly 595 600 605 Thr Arg Gly Ser Cys Arg Thr Tyr Asn Ser Thr Ser Phe Ser Arg Val 610 615 620 Tyr Leu Gly Leu Ser Ser Met Leu Arg Val Ser Ser Leu Val Leu Tyr 625 630 635 640 Ile Ile Leu Ile Tyr Ala Met Lys Lys Lys Tyr Gln Glu Lys Asp Ile 645 650 655 Asn Ala Ser Glu Asn Gly Ser Val Met Asp Glu Ala Asn Leu Glu Ser 660 665 670 Leu Asn Lys Asn Lys His Phe Val Pro Ser Ala Gly Ala Asp Ser Glu 675 680 685 Thr His Cys 690 3 2442 DNA Homo sapiens 3 cccgggtcga cccacgcgtc cgggataaag tactcccagg aaggctttga gccttggcag 60 aagaggctgg gattgaagct tcagggagag ccagaggtga ggctggagtg ggagatcacc 120 tgaggcaggg ccagcgggtg aggtacccca ggtaccagac aaggaaacca aagccacaat 180 gggcacagaa aacacacctg gaggcaaagc cagcccagac cctcaggacg tgcggccaag 240 tgtgttccat aacatcaagc tgttcgttct gtgccacagc ctgctgcagc tggcgcagct 300 catgatctcc ggctacctaa agagctccat ctccacagtg gagaagcgct tcggcctctc 360 cagccagacg tcggggctgc tggcctcctt caacgaggtg gggaacacag ccttgattgt 420 gtttgtgagc tattttggca gccgggtgca ccgaccccga atgattggct atggggctat 480 ccttgtggcc ctggcgggcc tgctcatgac tctcccgcac ttcatctcgg agccataccg 540 ctacgacaac accagccctg aggatatgcc acaggacttc aaggcttccc tgtgcctgcc 600 cacaacctcg gccccagcct cggccccctc caatggcaac tgctcaagct acacagaaac 660 ccagcatctg agtgtggtgg ggatcatgtt cgtggcacag accctgctgg gcgtgggcgg 720 ggtgcccatt cagccctttg gcatctccta catcgttgac tttgcccaca acagtaactc 780 gcccctctac ctcgggatcc tgtttgcagt gaccatgatg gggccaggcc tggcctttgg 840 gctgggcagc ctcatgctgc gcctttatgt ggacattaac cagatgccag aaggtggtat 900 cagcctgacc ataaaggacc cccgatgggt gggtgcctgg tggctgggtt tcctcatcgc 960 tgccggtgca gtggccctgg ctgccatccc ctacttcttc ttccccaagg aaatgcccaa 1020 ggaaaaacgt gagcttcagt ttcggcgaaa ggtcttagca gtcacagact cacctgccag 1080 gaagggcaag gactctccct ctaagcagag ccctggggag tccacgaaga agcaggatgg 1140 cctagtccag attgcaccaa acctgactgt gatccagttc attaaagtct tccccagggt 1200 gctgctgcag accctacgcc accccatctt cctgctggtg gtcctgtccc aggtatgctt 1260 gtcatccatg gctgcgggca tggccacctt cctgcccaag ttcctggagc gccagttttc 1320 catcacagcc tcctacgcca acctgctcat cggctgcctc tccttccctt cggtcatcgt 1380 gggcatcgtg gtgggtggcg tcctggtcaa gcggctccac ctgggccctg tgggatgcgg 1440 tgccctttgc ctgctgggga tgctgctgtg cctcttcttc agcctgccgc tcttctttat 1500 cggctgctcc agccaccaga ttgcgggcat cacacaccag accagtgccc accctgggct 1560 ggagctgtct ccaagctgca tggaggcctg ctcctgccca ttggacggct ttaaccctgt 1620 ctgcgacccc agcactcgtg tggaatacat cacaccctgc cacgcaggct gctcaagctg 1680 ggtggtccag gatgctctgg acaacagcca ggttttctac accaactgca gctgcgtggt 1740 ggagggcaac cccgtgctgg caggatcctg cgactcaacg tgcagccatc tggtggtgcc 1800 cttcctgctc ctggtcagcc tgggctcggc cctggcctgt ctcacccaca caccctcctt 1860 catgctcatc ctaagaggag tgaagaaaga agacaagact ttggctgtgg gcatccagtt 1920 catgttcctg aggattttgg cctggatgcc cagccccgtg atccacggca gcgccatcga 1980 caccacctgt gtgcactggg ccctgagctg tgggcgtcga gctgtctgtc gctactacaa 2040 taatgacctg ctccgaaacc ggttcatcgg cctccagttc ttcttcaaaa caggttctgt 2100 gatctgcttc gccttagttt tggctgtcct gaggcagcag gacaaagagg caaggaccaa 2160 agagagcaga tccagccctg ccgtagagca gcaattgcta gtgtcggggc cagggaagaa 2220 gccagaggat tcccgagtgt gagctgtctt ggggccccac ctggccaaga gtagcagcca 2280 cagcagtacc tcctctgagt cctttgccca agattgggtg tcaagagccc tgtgttccat 2340 tctggctcct ccactaaatt gctgtgtgac ttcaggcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2400 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa 2442 4 687 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Gly Thr Glu Asn Thr Pro Gly Gly Lys Ala Ser Pro Asp Pro Gln 1 5 10 15 Asp Val Arg Pro Ser Val Phe His Asn Ile Lys Leu Phe Val Leu Cys 20 25 30 His Ser Leu Leu Gln Leu Ala Gln Leu Met Ile Ser Gly Tyr Leu Lys 35 40 45 Ser Ser Ile Ser Thr Val Glu Lys Arg Phe Gly Leu Ser Ser Gln Thr 50 55 60 Ser Gly Leu Leu Ala Ser Phe Asn Glu Val Gly Asn Thr Ala Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 Val Phe Val Ser Tyr Phe Gly Ser Arg Val His Arg Pro Arg Met Ile 85 90 95 Gly Tyr Gly Ala Ile Leu Val Ala Leu Ala Gly Leu Leu Met Thr Leu 100 105 110 Pro His Phe Ile Ser Glu Pro Tyr Arg Tyr Asp Asn Thr Ser Pro Glu 115 120 125 Asp Met Pro Gln Asp Phe Lys Ala Ser Leu Cys Leu Pro Thr Thr Ser 130 135 140 Ala Pro Ala Ser Ala Pro Ser Asn Gly Asn Cys Ser Ser Tyr Thr Glu 145 150 155 160 Thr Gln His Leu Ser Val Val Gly Ile Met Phe Val Ala Gln Thr Leu 165 170 175 Leu Gly Val Gly Gly Val Pro Ile Gln Pro Phe Gly Ile Ser Tyr Ile 180 185 190 Val Asp Phe Ala His Asn Ser Asn Ser Pro Leu Tyr Leu Gly Ile Leu 195 200 205 Phe Ala Val Thr Met Met Gly Pro Gly Leu Ala Phe Gly Leu Gly Ser 210 215 220 Leu Met Leu Arg Leu Tyr Val Asp Ile Asn Gln Met Pro Glu Gly Gly 225 230 235 240 Ile Ser Leu Thr Ile Lys Asp Pro Arg Trp Val Gly Ala Trp Trp Leu 245 250 255 Gly Phe Leu Ile Ala Ala Gly Ala Val Ala Leu Ala Ala Ile Pro Tyr 260 265 270 Phe Phe Phe Pro Lys Glu Met Pro Lys Glu Lys Arg Glu Leu Gln Phe 275 280 285 Arg Arg Lys Val Leu Ala Val Thr Asp Ser Pro Ala Arg Lys Gly Lys 290 295 300 Asp Ser Pro Ser Lys Gln Ser Pro Gly Glu Ser Thr Lys Lys Gln Asp 305 310 315 320 Gly Leu Val Gln Ile Ala Pro Asn Leu Thr Val Ile Gln Phe Ile Lys 325 330 335 Val Phe Pro Arg Val Leu Leu Gln Thr Leu Arg His Pro Ile Phe Leu 340 345 350 Leu Val Val Leu Ser Gln Val Cys Leu Ser Ser Met Ala Ala Gly Met 355 360 365 Ala Thr Phe Leu Pro Lys Phe Leu Glu Arg Gln Phe Ser Ile Thr Ala 370 375 380 Ser Tyr Ala Asn Leu Leu Ile Gly Cys Leu Ser Phe Pro Ser Val Ile 385 390 395 400 Val Gly Ile Val Val Gly Gly Val Leu Val Lys Arg Leu His Leu Gly 405 410 415 Pro Val Gly Cys Gly Ala Leu Cys Leu Leu Gly Met Leu Leu Cys Leu 420 425 430 Phe Phe Ser Leu Pro Leu Phe Phe Ile Gly Cys Ser Ser His Gln Ile 435 440 445 Ala Gly Ile Thr His Gln Thr Ser Ala His Pro Gly Leu Glu Leu Ser 450 455 460 Pro Ser Cys Met Glu Ala Cys Ser Cys Pro Leu Asp Gly Phe Asn Pro 465 470 475 480 Val Cys Asp Pro Ser Thr Arg Val Glu Tyr Ile Thr Pro Cys His Ala 485 490 495 Gly Cys Ser Ser Trp Val Val Gln Asp Ala Leu Asp Asn Ser Gln Val 500 505 510 Phe Tyr Thr Asn Cys Ser Cys Val Val Glu Gly Asn Pro Val Leu Ala 515 520 525 Gly Ser Cys Asp Ser Thr Cys Ser His Leu Val Val Pro Phe Leu Leu 530 535 540 Leu Val Ser Leu Gly Ser Ala Leu Ala Cys Leu Thr His Thr Pro Ser 545 550 555 560 Phe Met Leu Ile Leu Arg Gly Val Lys Lys Glu Asp Lys Thr Leu Ala 565 570 575 Val Gly Ile Gln Phe Met Phe Leu Arg Ile Leu Ala Trp Met Pro Ser 580 585 590 Pro Val Ile His Gly Ser Ala Ile Asp Thr Thr Cys Val His Trp Ala 595 600 605 Leu Ser Cys Gly Arg Arg Ala Val Cys Arg Tyr Tyr Asn Asn Asp Leu 610 615 620 Leu Arg Asn Arg Phe Ile Gly Leu Gln Phe Phe Phe Lys Thr Gly Ser 625 630 635 640 Val Ile Cys Phe Ala Leu Val Leu Ala Val Leu Arg Gln Gln Asp Lys 645 650 655 Glu Ala Arg Thr Lys Glu Ser Arg Ser Ser Pro Ala Val Glu Gln Gln 660 665 670 Leu Leu Val Ser Gly Pro Gly Lys Lys Pro Glu Asp Ser Arg Val 675 680 685 5 2757 DNA Homo sapiens 5 cccacgcgtc cggcgaggag ctgtgccttc cacctctcca gccccggcag gacgggggcg 60 gccgccgcga acccggggcg gggacagcac gcagcctcga ggcgcgcacc cccgcccggc 120 agcggccccg acacccgggg cgagcgggaa agcggcagcg gcggcggcgg cggcggcggc 180 gggggaagga tgcaggggaa gaagccgggc ggttcgtcgg gcggcggccg gagcggcgag 240 ctgcaggggg acgaggcgca gaggaacaag aaaaagaaaa agaaggtgtc ctgcttttcc 300 aacatcaaga tcttcctggt gtccgagtgc gccctgatgc tggcgcaggg cacggtgggc 360 gcctacctgg tgagcgtcct gaccaccctg gagcgtaggt tcaacctgca gagcgctgac 420 gtgggtgtga tcgctagcag cttcgagatc gggaacctgg cgctcatcct cttcgtgagc 480 tacttcgggg cacgcgggca ccggccgcgc ctgatcggct gcggcggcat cgtcatggcg 540 ctgggcgcgc tgctgtcggc gctgcccgag ttcctgaccc accagtacaa gtacgaggcg 600 ggcgagatcc gctggggcgc cgagggccgc gacgtctgcg cagccaacgg ctcgggcggc 660 gacgaggggc ccgaccccga cctcatctgc cgcaaccgga cggctaccaa catgatgtac 720 ttgctgctca ttggggccca ggtgctcctg ggcatcggtg ctacccctgt gcagcccctg 780 ggcgtctcct acatcgacga ccacgtgcgg aggaaggact cctcgctcta tataggaatc 840 ctgttcacga tgctggtatt tggaccagcc tgcgggttta tcctgggctc tttctgtacc 900 aaaatctacg tggatgcggt cttcattgac acaagtaacc tggacatcac tccggacgac 960 ccccgctgga tcggagcctg gtggggtggc tttctgctct gcggtgcctt actcttcttc 1020 tcttccctct tgatgtttgg gtttccacag tccctgcccc cgcactcaga ccccgccatg 1080 gaaagcgagc aggccatgct ctccgaaaga gaatacgaga gacccaagcc cagcaacggg 1140 gtcctgaggc accccctgga gccagacagc agtgcctcct gtttccagca gctgagagtg 1200 atcccgaagg tcaccaagca cctgctctca aaccctgtgt tcacctgcat catcctggcc 1260 gcctgcatgg agattgcagt ggtggctggc ttcgctgcct ttttggggaa gtacctggag 1320 cagcagttta acctcaccac ctcttctgcc aaccagctgc ttgggatgac tgcgatcccg 1380 tgtgcttgtc tgggtatctt cctgggaggt cttttggtga agaagctcag cctgtctgcc 1440 ctgggggcca ttcggatggc catgctcgtc aacctggtgt ccactgcttg ctacgtctcc 1500 ttcctcttcc tgggctgcga cactggccct gtggctgggg ttactgttcc ctatggaaac 1560 agcacagcac ctggctcagc cctggacccc tactcgccct gcaataataa ctgtgaatgc 1620 caaaccgatt ccttcactcc agtgtgtggg gcagatggca tcacctacct gtctgcctgc 1680 tttgctggct gcaacagcac gaatctcacg ggctgtgcgt gcctcaccac cgtccctgct 1740 gagaacgcaa ccgtggttcc tggaaaatgc cccagtcctg ggtgccaaga ggccttcctc 1800 actttcctct gtgtgatgtg tatctgcagc ctgatcggtg ccatggcaca gacaccctca 1860 gtcatcatcc tcatcaggac agtcagccct gaactcaagt cttacgcttt gggagttctt 1920 tttctcctcc ttcgtttgtt gggcttcatc cctccacccc tcatcttcgg ggctggcatc 1980 gactccacct gcctgttctg gagcacgttc tgtggggagc aaggcgcctg cgtcctctac 2040 gacaatgtgg tctaccgata cctgtatgtc agcatcgcca tcgcgctcaa atccttcgcc 2100 ttcatcctgt acaccaccac gtggcagtgc ctgaggaaaa actataaacg ctacatcaaa 2160 aaccacgagg gcgggctgag caccagtgag ttctttgcct ctactctgac cctagacaac 2220 ctggggaggg accctgtgcc cgcaaaccag acacatagga caaagtttat ctataacctg 2280 gaagaccatg agtggtgtga aaacatggag tccgttttat agtgactaaa ggagggctga 2340 actctgtatt agtaatccaa gggtcatttt tttcttaaaa aaagaaaaaa aggttccaaa 2400 aaaaaccaaa actcagtaca cacacacagg cacagatgca cacacacgca gacagacaca 2460 ccgactttgt cctttttctc agcatcagag ccagacagga ttcagaataa ggagagaatg 2520 acatcgtgcg gcagggtcct ggaggccact cgcgcggctg ggccacagag tctactttga 2580 aggcacctca tggttttcag gatgctgaca gctgcaagca acaggcactg ccaaattcag 2640 ggaacagtgg tggccagctt ggaggatgga catttctgga tacacataca catacaaaac 2700 agaaaacatt ttttaaaaga agtttcctaa aataaaaaaa ataaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 2757 6 710 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Met Gln Gly Lys Lys Pro Gly Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Gly Arg Ser Gly 1 5 10 15 Glu Leu Gln Gly Asp Glu Ala Gln Arg Asn Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys 20 25 30 Val Ser Cys Phe Ser Asn Ile Lys Ile Phe Leu Val Ser Glu Cys Ala 35 40 45 Leu Met Leu Ala Gln Gly Thr Val Gly Ala Tyr Leu Val Ser Val Leu 50 55 60 Thr Thr Leu Glu Arg Arg Phe Asn Leu Gln Ser Ala Asp Val Gly Val 65 70 75 80 Ile Ala Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile Gly Asn Leu Ala Leu Ile Leu Phe Val 85 90 95 Ser Tyr Phe Gly Ala Arg Gly His Arg Pro Arg Leu Ile Gly Cys Gly 100 105 110 Gly Ile Val Met Ala Leu Gly Ala Leu Leu Ser Ala Leu Pro Glu Phe 115 120 125 Leu Thr His Gln Tyr Lys Tyr Glu Ala Gly Glu Ile Arg Trp Gly Ala 130 135 140 Glu Gly Arg Asp Val Cys Ala Ala Asn Gly Ser Gly Gly Asp Glu Gly 145 150 155 160 Pro Asp Pro Asp Leu Ile Cys Arg Asn Arg Thr Ala Thr Asn Met Met 165 170 175 Tyr Leu Leu Leu Ile Gly Ala Gln Val Leu Leu Gly Ile Gly Ala Thr 180 185 190 Pro Val Gln Pro Leu Gly Val Ser Tyr Ile Asp Asp His Val Arg Arg 195 200 205 Lys Asp Ser Ser Leu Tyr Ile Gly Ile Leu Phe Thr Met Leu Val Phe 210 215 220 Gly Pro Ala Cys Gly Phe Ile Leu Gly Ser Phe Cys Thr Lys Ile Tyr 225 230 235 240 Val Asp Ala Val Phe Ile Asp Thr Ser Asn Leu Asp Ile Thr Pro Asp 245 250 255 Asp Pro Arg Trp Ile Gly Ala Trp Trp Gly Gly Phe Leu Leu Cys Gly 260 265 270 Ala Leu Leu Phe Phe Ser Ser Leu Leu Met Phe Gly Phe Pro Gln Ser 275 280 285 Leu Pro Pro His Ser Asp Pro Ala Met Glu Ser Glu Gln Ala Met Leu 290 295 300 Ser Glu Arg Glu Tyr Glu Arg Pro Lys Pro Ser Asn Gly Val Leu Arg 305 310 315 320 His Pro Leu Glu Pro Asp Ser Ser Ala Ser Cys Phe Gln Gln Leu Arg 325 330 335 Val Ile Pro Lys Val Thr Lys His Leu Leu Ser Asn Pro Val Phe Thr 340 345 350 Cys Ile Ile Leu Ala Ala Cys Met Glu Ile Ala Val Val Ala Gly Phe 355 360 365 Ala Ala Phe Leu Gly Lys Tyr Leu Glu Gln Gln Phe Asn Leu Thr Thr 370 375 380 Ser Ser Ala Asn Gln Leu Leu Gly Met Thr Ala Ile Pro Cys Ala Cys 385 390 395 400 Leu Gly Ile Phe Leu Gly Gly Leu Leu Val Lys Lys Leu Ser Leu Ser 405 410 415 Ala Leu Gly Ala Ile Arg Met Ala Met Leu Val Asn Leu Val Ser Thr 420 425 430 Ala Cys Tyr Val Ser Phe Leu Phe Leu Gly Cys Asp Thr Gly Pro Val 435 440 445 Ala Gly Val Thr Val Pro Tyr Gly Asn Ser Thr Ala Pro Gly Ser Ala 450 455 460 Leu Asp Pro Tyr Ser Pro Cys Asn Asn Asn Cys Glu Cys Gln Thr Asp 465 470 475 480 Ser Phe Thr Pro Val Cys Gly Ala Asp Gly Ile Thr Tyr Leu Ser Ala 485 490 495 Cys Phe Ala Gly Cys Asn Ser Thr Asn Leu Thr Gly Cys Ala Cys Leu 500 505 510 Thr Thr Val Pro Ala Glu Asn Ala Thr Val Val Pro Gly Lys Cys Pro 515 520 525 Ser Pro Gly Cys Gln Glu Ala Phe Leu Thr Phe Leu Cys Val Met Cys 530 535 540 Ile Cys Ser Leu Ile Gly Ala Met Ala Gln Thr Pro Ser Val Ile Ile 545 550 555 560 Leu Ile Arg Thr Val Ser Pro Glu Leu Lys Ser Tyr Ala Leu Gly Val 565 570 575 Leu Phe Leu Leu Leu Arg Leu Leu Gly Phe Ile Pro Pro Pro Leu Ile 580 585 590 Phe Gly Ala Gly Ile Asp Ser Thr Cys Leu Phe Trp Ser Thr Phe Cys 595 600 605 Gly Glu Gln Gly Ala Cys Val Leu Tyr Asp Asn Val Val Tyr Arg Tyr 610 615 620 Leu Tyr Val Ser Ile Ala Ile Ala Leu Lys Ser Phe Ala Phe Ile Leu 625 630 635 640 Tyr Thr Thr Thr Trp Gln Cys Leu Arg Lys Asn Tyr Lys Arg Tyr Ile 645 650 655 Lys Asn His Glu Gly Gly Leu Ser Thr Ser Glu Phe Phe Ala Ser Thr 660 665 670 Leu Thr Leu Asp Asn Leu Gly Arg Asp Pro Val Pro Ala Asn Gln Thr 675 680 685 His Arg Thr Lys Phe Ile Tyr Asn Leu Glu Asp His Glu Trp Cys Glu 690 695 700 Asn Met Glu Ser Val Leu 705 710 7 3692 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature (713) y = c or t 7 ctgatttctc ttcggctgga cggaggctgc ctcctcacgc ggctcccaac tattcccgta 60 gctcagtgcc cccctcccgc cgctctactc agccaggcag acagactgac agactcgcta 120 gtcggcagct tcactcccga gggtgccgcg agcccaggcg gcgaacaccc ggtacccctg 180 gcgcagcgag gtgggatgct gtacggacag cagcgctaag tgccccccca cccccggcgc 240 agggtgcact cgctcctggc cgcgggccca gcggcggcgg cggcggcggc ggcggagggg 300 atgagcccgg gacgcgcgag gcgcctgcct caagctaccg cccggagagg gacgccgagt 360 agggctcatc gcagtaccgc gcggacccct gccccctgtg gcacgcggct gcggagcctt 420 gaagccgtgt ctgtgatcag gatgcactgg gcgcctcgca gctggtgagg atgccctgct 480 gcgcggccct gcgcccccag ccccagtccc aggtgggcaa gactgactgg gcccggcttc 540 ggcccctcgt gccggtggat gaaacgtgcc ggagtgcttg ggtgccatca gctatcaaat 600 ctgaattcta agcgccatgg acgaaggcac tggactgcag cccggggcgg gagagcagct 660 ggaggcgccg gccactgcag aagctgtcca agagaggtgc gagccggaga ccytcaggtc 720 taagagttta ccggtcctca gcagcgcctc ctgccggcca agcctcagtc ccactagtgg 780 agacgccaac ccggcctttg gctgtgtgga ttcttcgggc caccaggagt tgaagcaagg 840 cccgaacccg ttggccccca gtccctctgc cccgtccact tcggcggggc tcggggactg 900 taaccacagg gtggacctca gcaaaacctt ctcggtgtcc tccgccttgg ccatgctcca 960 ggagagaagg tgcctctacg tggtcctcac ggattcccgt tgcttcctgg tgtgcatgtg 1020 ctttctgacc ttcatccagg cgttaatggt ctctgggtac ctgagcagcg taattaccac 1080 cattgaaagg cgctacagtc tgaagagttc cgagtcgggg ctgctggtca gctgctttga 1140 catcgggaac ctggtggtgg tggtgttcgt cagctacttc ggcggccggg gtcggcggcc 1200 cctgtggctg gccgtgggtg gactcctcat cgccttcggg gcagccctct tcgccttacc 1260 tcacttcatc tcgcccccct accagatcca agagttgaac gcctcggccc ccaacgacgg 1320 cctgtgtcag ggtggcaact ccaccgccac tttggagcct ccggcctgtc cgaaggactc 1380 gggaggaaat aatcactggg tctacctggc tttattcatt tgcgcgcaga ttctcattgg 1440 aatgggctcc acacctattt ataccctggg accaacctac ttagatgaca atgtcaagaa 1500 agaaaactcc tccttgtacc tagccatcat gtatgtcatg ggagcacttg gccctgcagt 1560 gggatattta ttaggtggac ttcttattgg tttttatgtt gatcccagaa atcctgttca 1620 ccttgaccag aatgaccctc gtttcattgg aaactggtgg agtggattcc tcctttgtgc 1680 cattgcaatg tttcttgtga tattcccaat gtttactttc ccaaaaaagc ttccacctcg 1740 acacaagaaa aagaaaaaga aaaaattttc tgttgatgct gttagtgatg acgatgttct 1800 gaaggagaaa tcaaacaaca gtgaacaagc ggacaaaaaa gtttcttcga tgggatttgg 1860 aaaggatgtc agagacctac caagagcagc tgtcaggatc ttaagcaaca tgacattcct 1920 ttttgtgagt ttgtcataca cagctgagag tgccattgta actgctttca ttaccttcat 1980 tcccaagttc atcgagtcac agtttggtat cccagcctcc aatgccagca tctacactgg 2040 ggttattatc gtccccagtg ctggtgttgg tattgtcctc ggaggctaca ttataaaaaa 2100 attgaaactt ggtgccagag aatctgcaaa actagcaatg atctgcagtg gtgtgtcttt 2160 actatgtttt tcaaccctat ttattgttgg atgtgaaagc attaatctag ggggcataaa 2220 catcccttat acaacaggac cttctctcac catgccccat aggaatctga caggaagctg 2280 caacgttaat tgtggttgta aaatacacga gtatgagcca gtctgtggat cagatggaat 2340 tacatacttt aacccttgtc tggctggctg tgttaatagt ggtaatctta gcactgkgat 2400 acggaattat acagaatgca cctgtgtcca aagtcgccaa gtgatcactc cacccaccgt 2460 gggacagcga agtcagctcc gtgtggttat tgtcaagact tatctcaatg agaacggcta 2520 tgctgtgtct gggaaatgta aacggacctg caatactctt atcccattct tagtttttct 2580 tttcatagtc accttcatca cagcatgtgc ccaaccatca gctatcatag taacactcag 2640 gtccgtagaa gatgaggaga gaccttttgc actgggaatg cagtttgttt tgttgcgaac 2700 acttgcatac attcctactc caatctactt tggagcagtc attgacacca cctgcatgct 2760 ctggcaacag gaatgtggtg tgcagggttc ttgctgggag tacaacgtga cgtcgtttcg 2820 ttttgtgtat tttggtttgg ctgccggcct caaattcgtt gggtttattt ttatttttct 2880 ggcctggtac tccataaaat acaaggagga tggactgcag aggcggaggc agagagaatt 2940 tcccctgagc accgtgagtg agagagtggg acaccccgac aatgcccgga ctagatcttg 3000 cccagctttc agcacccagg gagaattcca cgaagagact ggcctgcaaa aagggatcca 3060 gtgcgcagca cagacctacc cggggccctt cccagaagca ataagttcct ctgcggaccc 3120 ggggctggaa gagagccccg ctgccttgga gccgccctcc tgaagcttga aaatggaaga 3180 atttagtttt gttggttgaa ttgaaaatgg cgacttgaga aacaactgtg ccttcttttc 3240 tttctttctt ttttttaacc tctacagaca caatcctcaa accaacaaaa ctcagtatac 3300 acagccgcta ttcattgagg gctggatacc tcaacaagac tgagagcctt tccccgcttc 3360 tctccaagaa ggagacgttc agctagattt gttcccattt ccgttgtgtt aattcaaagc 3420 tcatgctccc ctacggtaca ggctgaggta cacggttagc aaaaccatgg gaaggggaat 3480 ggcggtgcat atcattaact aacactccaa acaaaggtga gcttgcccag gacttggcat 3540 ttccaaatca aagtttttag atatgaacac ctactgtgag ttctgctaca aagcacaaat 3600 gaatttgtct caactatgca atttgattgg aaaaatgtat gtgcagcatg ttacatttac 3660 tttcacggaa taaagcagat atgtttctga aa 3692 8 848 PRT Homo sapiens PEPTIDE (33) Xaa = Leu or Phe 8 Met Asp Glu Gly Thr Gly Leu Gln Pro Gly Ala Gly Glu Gln Leu Glu 1 5 10 15 Ala Pro Ala Thr Ala Glu Ala Val Gln Glu Arg Cys Glu Pro Glu Thr 20 25 30 Xaa Arg Ser Lys Ser Leu Pro Val Leu Ser Ser Ala Ser Cys Arg Pro 35 40 45 Ser Leu Ser Pro Thr Ser Gly Asp Ala Asn Pro Ala Phe Gly Cys Val 50 55 60 Asp Ser Ser Gly His Gln Glu Leu Lys Gln Gly Pro Asn Pro Leu Ala 65 70 75 80 Pro Ser Pro Ser Ala Pro Ser Thr Ser Ala Gly Leu Gly Asp Cys Asn 85 90 95 His Arg Val Asp Leu Ser Lys Thr Phe Ser Val Ser Ser Ala Leu Ala 100 105 110 Met Leu Gln Glu Arg Arg Cys Leu Tyr Val Val Leu Thr Asp Ser Arg 115 120 125 Cys Phe Leu Val Cys Met Cys Phe Leu Thr Phe Ile Gln Ala Leu Met 130 135 140 Val Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ser Ser Val Ile Thr Thr Ile Glu Arg Arg Tyr 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Lys Ser Ser Glu Ser Gly Leu Leu Val Ser Cys Phe Asp Ile 165 170 175 Gly Asn Leu Val Val Val Val Phe Val Ser Tyr Phe Gly Gly Arg Gly 180 185 190 Arg Arg Pro Leu Trp Leu Ala Val Gly Gly Leu Leu Ile Ala Phe Gly 195 200 205 Ala Ala Leu Phe Ala Leu Pro His Phe Ile Ser Pro Pro Tyr Gln Ile 210 215 220 Gln Glu Leu Asn Ala Ser Ala Pro Asn Asp Gly Leu Cys Gln Gly Gly 225 230 235 240 Asn Ser Thr Ala Thr Leu Glu Pro Pro Ala Cys Pro Lys Asp Ser Gly 245 250 255 Gly Asn Asn His Trp Val Tyr Leu Ala Leu Phe Ile Cys Ala Gln Ile 260 265 270 Leu Ile Gly Met Gly Ser Thr Pro Ile Tyr Thr Leu Gly Pro Thr Tyr 275 280 285 Leu Asp Asp Asn Val Lys Lys Glu Asn Ser Ser Leu Tyr Leu Ala Ile 290 295 300 Met Tyr Val Met Gly Ala Leu Gly Pro Ala Val Gly Tyr Leu Leu Gly 305 310 315 320 Gly Leu Leu Ile Gly Phe Tyr Val Asp Pro Arg Asn Pro Val His Leu 325 330 335 Asp Gln Asn Asp Pro Arg Phe Ile Gly Asn Trp Trp Ser Gly Phe Leu 340 345 350 Leu Cys Ala Ile Ala Met Phe Leu Val Ile Phe Pro Met Phe Thr Phe 355 360 365 Pro Lys Lys Leu Pro Pro Arg His Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Phe 370 375 380 Ser Val Asp Ala Val Ser Asp Asp Asp Val Leu Lys Glu Lys Ser Asn 385 390 395 400 Asn Ser Glu Gln Ala Asp Lys Lys Val Ser Ser Met Gly Phe Gly Lys 405 410 415 Asp Val Arg Asp Leu Pro Arg Ala Ala Val Arg Ile Leu Ser Asn Met 420 425 430 Thr Phe Leu Phe Val Ser Leu Ser Tyr Thr Ala Glu Ser Ala Ile Val 435 440 445 Thr Ala Phe Ile Thr Phe Ile Pro Lys Phe Ile Glu Ser Gln Phe Gly 450 455 460 Ile Pro Ala Ser Asn Ala Ser Ile Tyr Thr Gly Val Ile Ile Val Pro 465 470 475 480 Ser Ala Gly Val Gly Ile Val Leu Gly Gly Tyr Ile Ile Lys Lys Leu 485 490 495 Lys Leu Gly Ala Arg Glu Ser Ala Lys Leu Ala Met Ile Cys Ser Gly 500 505 510 Val Ser Leu Leu Cys Phe Ser Thr Leu Phe Ile Val Gly Cys Glu Ser 515 520 525 Ile Asn Leu Gly Gly Ile Asn Ile Pro Tyr Thr Thr Gly Pro Ser Leu 530 535 540 Thr Met Pro His Arg Asn Leu Thr Gly Ser Cys Asn Val Asn Cys Gly 545 550 555 560 Cys Lys Ile His Glu Tyr Glu Pro Val Cys Gly Ser Asp Gly Ile Thr 565 570 575 Tyr Phe Asn Pro Cys Leu Ala Gly Cys Val Asn Ser Gly Asn Leu Ser 580 585 590 Thr Xaa Ile Arg Asn Tyr Thr Glu Cys Thr Cys Val Gln Ser Arg Gln 595 600 605 Val Ile Thr Pro Pro Thr Val Gly Gln Arg Ser Gln Leu Arg Val Val 610 615 620 Ile Val Lys Thr Tyr Leu Asn Glu Asn Gly Tyr Ala Val Ser Gly Lys 625 630 635 640 Cys Lys Arg Thr Cys Asn Thr Leu Ile Pro Phe Leu Val Phe Leu Phe 645 650 655 Ile Val Thr Phe Ile Thr Ala Cys Ala Gln Pro Ser Ala Ile Ile Val 660 665 670 Thr Leu Arg Ser Val Glu Asp Glu Glu Arg Pro Phe Ala Leu Gly Met 675 680 685 Gln Phe Val Leu Leu Arg Thr Leu Ala Tyr Ile Pro Thr Pro Ile Tyr 690 695 700 Phe Gly Ala Val Ile Asp Thr Thr Cys Met Leu Trp Gln Gln Glu Cys 705 710 715 720 Gly Val Gln Gly Ser Cys Trp Glu Tyr Asn Val Thr Ser Phe Arg Phe 725 730 735 Val Tyr Phe Gly Leu Ala Ala Gly Leu Lys Phe Val Gly Phe Ile Phe 740 745 750 Ile Phe Leu Ala Trp Tyr Ser Ile Lys Tyr Lys Glu Asp Gly Leu Gln 755 760 765 Arg Arg Arg Gln Arg Glu Phe Pro Leu Ser Thr Val Ser Glu Arg Val 770 775 780 Gly His Pro Asp Asn Ala Arg Thr Arg Ser Cys Pro Ala Phe Ser Thr 785 790 795 800 Gln Gly Glu Phe His Glu Glu Thr Gly Leu Gln Lys Gly Ile Gln Cys 805 810 815 Ala Ala Gln Thr Tyr Pro Gly Pro Phe Pro Glu Ala Ile Ser Ser Ser 820 825 830 Ala Asp Pro Gly Leu Glu Glu Ser Pro Ala Ala Leu Glu Pro Pro Ser 835 840 845 9 3381 DNA Homo sapiens 9 cgcaaagaaa tggctcaaaa gcttcagctc tttctgtgcc ctgggagctg agatgcacgt 60 cagtggcctt gccagcgtgg ccaattctct gctgactgcc agaaaaaaga ggccaggaag 120 aaagaggaaa gagaagagat cgctcagggg tgagaccatg cccttcatct tttcttttcc 180 ctaatctcct ctgcttgtgt ccacccacac tctccccacc tggcaaaatt gttcaaaatt 240 gctgtggagt ttacctcagt ttcctctttc agtctgtggt gtgtggtcca tcctcttgct 300 gagcacattg aaaggaactg gctatctttg atctcttcct ccagatcaga gtcaaggaat 360 gtgtttataa tggacacttc atccaaagaa aatatccagt tgttctgcaa aacttcagtg 420 caacctgttg gaaggccttc ttttaaaaca gaatatccct cctcagaaga aaagcaacca 480 tgctgtggtg aactaaaggt gttcttgtgt gccttgtctt ttgtttactt tgccaaagca 540 ttggcagaag gctatctgaa gagcaccatc actcagatag agagaaggtt tgatatccct 600 tcttcactgg tgggagttat tgatggtagt tttgaaattg ggaatctctt agttataaca 660 tttgttagct actttggagc caaacttcac aggccaaaaa taattggagc agggtgtgta 720 atcatgggag ttggaacact gctcattgca atgcctcagt tcttcatgga gcagtacaaa 780 tatgagagat attctccttc ctccaattcc actctcagca tctctccgtg tctcctagag 840 tcaagcagtc aattaccagt ttcagttatg gaaaaatcaa aatccaaaat aagtaacgaa 900 tgtgaagtgg acactagctc ttccatgtgg atttatgttt tcctgggcaa tcttcttcgt 960 ggaataggag aaactcccat tcagcctttg ggcattgcct acctggatga ttttgccagt 1020 gaagacaatg cagctttcta tattgggtgt gtgcagacgg ttgcaattat aggaccaatc 1080 tttggtttcc tgttaggctc attatgtgcc aaactatatg ttgacattgg ctttgtaaac 1140 ctagatcaca taaccattac cccaaaagat ccccagtggg taggagcctg gtggcttggc 1200 tatctaatag caggaatcat aagtcttctt gcagctgtgc ctttctggta tttaccaaag 1260 agtttaccaa gatcccaaag tagagaggat tctaattctt cctctgagaa atccaagttt 1320 attatagatg atcacacaga ctaccaaaca ccccagggag aaaatgcaaa aataatggaa 1380 atggcaagag attttcttcc atcactgaag aatctttttg gaaacccagt atacttccta 1440 tatttatgta caagcactgt tcagttcaat tctctgttcg gcatggtgac gtacaaacca 1500 aagtacattg agcagcagta tggacagtca tcctccaggg ccaactttgt gatcgggctc 1560 atcaacattc cagcagtggc ccttggaata ttctctgggg ggatagttat gaaaaaattc 1620 agaatcagtg tgtgtggagc tgcaaaactc tacttgggat catctgtctt tggttacctc 1680 ctatttcttt ccctgtttgc actgggctgt gaaaattctg atgtggcagg actaactgtc 1740 tcctaccaag gaaccaaacc tgtctcttat catgaacgag ctctcttttc agattgcaac 1800 tcaagatgca aatgttcaga gacaaaatgg gaacccatgt gcggtgaaaa tggaatcaca 1860 tatgtatcag cttgtcttgc tggttgtcaa acctccaaca ggagtggaaa aaatattata 1920 ttttacaact gcacttgtgt gggaattgca gcttctaaat ccggaaattc ctcaggcata 1980 gtgggaagat gtcagaaaga caatggatgt ccccaaatgt ttctgtattt ccttgtaatt 2040 tcagtcatca catcctatac tttatcccta ggtggcatac ctggatacat attacttctg 2100 aggtgcatta agccacagct taagtctttt gccttgggta tctacacatt agcaataaga 2160 gttcttgcag gaatcccagc tccagtgtat tttggagttt tgattgatac ttcatgcctc 2220 aaatggggat ttaaaagatg tggaagtaga ggatcatgca gattatatga ttcaaatgtc 2280 ttcagacata tatatttggg actaactgtg atactgggca cagtgtcaat tctcctaagc 2340 attgcagtac ttttcatttt aaagaaaaat tatgtttcaa aacacagaag ttttataacc 2400 aagagagaaa gaacaatggt gtctacaaga ttccaaaagg aaaattacac tacaagtgat 2460 catctgctac aacccaacta ctggccaggc aaggaaactc aactttagaa acatgatgac 2520 tggaagtcat gtcttctaat tggttgacat tttgcaaaca aataaattgt aatcaaaaga 2580 gctctaaatt tgtaatttct ttctcctttc aaaaaatgtc tactttgttt tggtcctagg 2640 cattaggtaa tataactgat aatatactga aatatataat ggaagatgca gatgataaaa 2700 ctaattttga actttttaat ttatataaat tattttatat catttactta tttcacttta 2760 ttttgctttg tgctcattga tatatattag ctgtactcct agaagaacaa ttgtctctat 2820 tgtcacacat ggttatattt aaagtaattt ctgaactgtg taatgtgtct agagtaagca 2880 aatactgcta acaattaact cataccttgg gttccttcaa gtattactcc tatagtattt 2940 tctcccatag ctgtcttcat ctgtgtattt taataatgat cttaggatgg agcagaacat 3000 ggagaggaag atttcatttt aagctcctcc ttttccttga aatacaataa tttatataga 3060 aatgtgtagc agcaaattat attggggatt agaattttga attaatagct ctcctactat 3120 taatttacat gtgctttttg tgtggcgcta taagtgacta tggttgtaaa gtaataaaat 3180 tgatgttaac atgcccaatt attgttcttt tatgaattca atgaatttaa aactattgtt 3240 aaatataata ctgccccact ttaatatatg taagcaactt cctacttata cacgacgtgt 3300 tcctaaaaca tgtttgaaag gtgaatttct gaaagtctcc cataaatgta ggtgttacaa 3360 caggaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa a 3381 10 712 PRT Homo sapiens 10 Met Asp Thr Ser Ser Lys Glu Asn Ile Gln Leu Phe Cys Lys Thr Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Gln Pro Val Gly Arg Pro Ser Phe Lys Thr Glu Tyr Pro Ser Ser 20 25 30 Glu Glu Lys Gln Pro Cys Cys Gly Glu Leu Lys Val Phe Leu Cys Ala 35 40 45 Leu Ser Phe Val Tyr Phe Ala Lys Ala Leu Ala Glu Gly Tyr Leu Lys 50 55 60 Ser Thr Ile Thr Gln Ile Glu Arg Arg Phe Asp Ile Pro Ser Ser Leu 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Val Ile Asp Gly Ser Phe Glu Ile Gly Asn Leu Leu Val Ile 85 90 95 Thr Phe Val Ser Tyr Phe Gly Ala Lys Leu His Arg Pro Lys Ile Ile 100 105 110 Gly Ala Gly Cys Val Ile Met Gly Val Gly Thr Leu Leu Ile Ala Met 115 120 125 Pro Gln Phe Phe Met Glu Gln Tyr Lys Tyr Glu Arg Tyr Ser Pro Ser 130 135 140 Ser Asn Ser Thr Leu Ser Ile Ser Pro Cys Leu Leu Glu Ser Ser Ser 145 150 155 160 Gln Leu Pro Val Ser Val Met Glu Lys Ser Lys Ser Lys Ile Ser Asn 165 170 175 Glu Cys Glu Val Asp Thr Ser Ser Ser Met Trp Ile Tyr Val Phe Leu 180 185 190 Gly Asn Leu Leu Arg Gly Ile Gly Glu Thr Pro Ile Gln Pro Leu Gly 195 200 205 Ile Ala Tyr Leu Asp Asp Phe Ala Ser Glu Asp Asn Ala Ala Phe Tyr 210 215 220 Ile Gly Cys Val Gln Thr Val Ala Ile Ile Gly Pro Ile Phe Gly Phe 225 230 235 240 Leu Leu Gly Ser Leu Cys Ala Lys Leu Tyr Val Asp Ile Gly Phe Val 245 250 255 Asn Leu Asp His Ile Thr Ile Thr Pro Lys Asp Pro Gln Trp Val Gly 260 265 270 Ala Trp Trp Leu Gly Tyr Leu Ile Ala Gly Ile Ile Ser Leu Leu Ala 275 280 285 Ala Val Pro Phe Trp Tyr Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Pro Arg Ser Gln Ser 290 295 300 Arg Glu Asp Ser Asn Ser Ser Ser Glu Lys Ser Lys Phe Ile Ile Asp 305 310 315 320 Asp His Thr Asp Tyr Gln Thr Pro Gln Gly Glu Asn Ala Lys Ile Met 325 330 335 Glu Met Ala Arg Asp Phe Leu Pro Ser Leu Lys Asn Leu Phe Gly Asn 340 345 350 Pro Val Tyr Phe Leu Tyr Leu Cys Thr Ser Thr Val Gln Phe Asn Ser 355 360 365 Leu Phe Gly Met Val Thr Tyr Lys Pro Lys Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gln Tyr 370 375 380 Gly Gln Ser Ser Ser Arg Ala Asn Phe Val Ile Gly Leu Ile Asn Ile 385 390 395 400 Pro Ala Val Ala Leu Gly Ile Phe Ser Gly Gly Ile Val Met Lys Lys 405 410 415 Phe Arg Ile Ser Val Cys Gly Ala Ala Lys Leu Tyr Leu Gly Ser Ser 420 425 430 Val Phe Gly Tyr Leu Leu Phe Leu Ser Leu Phe Ala Leu Gly Cys Glu 435 440 445 Asn Ser Asp Val Ala Gly Leu Thr Val Ser Tyr Gln Gly Thr Lys Pro 450 455 460 Val Ser Tyr His Glu Arg Ala Leu Phe Ser Asp Cys Asn Ser Arg Cys 465 470 475 480 Lys Cys Ser Glu Thr Lys Trp Glu Pro Met Cys Gly Glu Asn Gly Ile 485 490 495 Thr Tyr Val Ser Ala Cys Leu Ala Gly Cys Gln Thr Ser Asn Arg Ser 500 505 510 Gly Lys Asn Ile Ile Phe Tyr Asn Cys Thr Cys Val Gly Ile Ala Ala 515 520 525 Ser Lys Ser Gly Asn Ser Ser Gly Ile Val Gly Arg Cys Gln Lys Asp 530 535 540 Asn Gly Cys Pro Gln Met Phe Leu Tyr Phe Leu Val Ile Ser Val Ile 545 550 555 560 Thr Ser Tyr Thr Leu Ser Leu Gly Gly Ile Pro Gly Tyr Ile Leu Leu 565 570 575 Leu Arg Cys Ile Lys Pro Gln Leu Lys Ser Phe Ala Leu Gly Ile Tyr 580 585 590 Thr Leu Ala Ile Arg Val Leu Ala Gly Ile Pro Ala Pro Val Tyr Phe 595 600 605 Gly Val Leu Ile Asp Thr Ser Cys Leu Lys Trp Gly Phe Lys Arg Cys 610 615 620 Gly Ser Arg Gly Ser Cys Arg Leu Tyr Asp Ser Asn Val Phe Arg His 625 630 635 640 Ile Tyr Leu Gly Leu Thr Val Ile Leu Gly Thr Val Ser Ile Leu Leu 645 650 655 Ser Ile Ala Val Leu Phe Ile Leu Lys Lys Asn Tyr Val Ser Lys His 660 665 670 Arg Ser Phe Ile Thr Lys Arg Glu Arg Thr Met Val Ser Thr Arg Phe 675 680 685 Gln Lys Glu Asn Tyr Thr Thr Ser Asp His Leu Leu Gln Pro Asn Tyr 690 695 700 Trp Pro Gly Lys Glu Thr Gln Leu 705 710 11 2763 DNA Homo sapiens 11 ggcacgaggc gctgcgcggc gcggcggccg ggccctcgag acggggacgg acacaccagc 60 ccctcggata ccacttggcc actcccgctg aggccactcc cactgcgtgg ctgaagcctc 120 gaggtcacca ggcggaggcg cggagatgcc cctgcatcag ctgggggaca agccgctcac 180 cttccccagc cccaactcag ccatggaaaa cgggcttgac cacaccccac ccagcaggag 240 ggcatccccg ggcacacccc tgagccccgg gtccctccgc tccgctgccc atagccccct 300 ggacaccagc aagcagcccc tctgccagct ctgggccgag aagcatggcg cccgggggac 360 ccatgaggtg cggtacgtct cggccgggca gagcgtggcg tgcggctggt gggccttcgc 420 accgccgtgc ctgcaggtcc tcaacacgcc caagggcatc ctgttcttcc tgtgtgcggc 480 cgcattcctg caggggatga ctgtgaatgg cttcatcaac acagtcatca cctccctgga 540 gcgccgctat gacctgcaca gctaccagag cgggctcatc gccagctcct acgacattgc 600 cgcctgcctc tgcctcacct tcgtcagcta cttcgggggc tcagggcaca agccgcgctg 660 gctgggctgg ggcgtgctgc ttatgggcac ggggtcgctg gtgttcgcgc tgccccactt 720 cacggctggc cgctatgagg tggagttgga cgcgggtgtc aggacgtgcc ctgccaaccc 780 cggcgcggtg tgtgcggaca gcacctcggg cctgtcccgc taccagctgg tcttcatgct 840 gggccagttc ctgcatggcg tgggtgccac acccctctac acgctgggcg tcacctacct 900 ggatgagaac gtcaagtcca gctgctcgcc cgtctacatt gccatcttct acacagcggc 960 catcctgggc ccagctgccg gctacctgat tggaggtgcc ctgctgaata tctacacgga 1020 aatgggccga cggacggagc tgaccaccga gagcccactg tgggtcggcg cctggtgggt 1080 cggcttcctg ggctctgggg ccgctgcttt cttcaccgcc gttcccatcc ttggttaccc 1140 tcggcagctg ccaggctccc agcgctacgc ggtcatgaga gcggcggaaa tgcaccagtt 1200 gaaggacagc agccgtgggg aggcgagcaa cccggacttt gggaaaacca tcagagacct 1260 gcctctctcc atctggctcc tgctgaagaa ccccacgttc atcctgctct gcctggccgg 1320 ggccaccgag gccactctca tcaccggcat gtccacgttc agccccaagt tcttggagtc 1380 ccagttcagc ctgagtgcct cagaagctgc caccttgttt gggtacctgg tggtgccagc 1440 gggtggtggc ggcaccttcc tgggcggctt ctttgtgaac aagctcaggc tccggggctc 1500 cgcggtcatc aagttctgcc tgttctgcac cgttgtcagc ctgctgggca tcctcgtctt 1560 ctcactgcac tgccccagtg tgcccatggc gggcgtcaca gccagctacg gcgggagcct 1620 cctgcccgaa ggccacctga acctaacggc tccctgcaac gctgcctgca gctgccagcc 1680 agaacactac agccctgtgt gcggctcgga cggcctcatg tacttctcac tgtgccacgc 1740 agggtgccct gcagccacgg agacgaatgt ggacggccag aaggtgtacc gagactgtag 1800 ctgtatccct cagaatcttt cctctggttt tggccatgcc actgcaggga aatgcacttc 1860 aacttgtcag agaaagcccc tccttctggt tttcatattc gttgtaattt tctttacatt 1920 cctcagcagc attcctgcac taacggcaac tctacgatgt gtccgtgacc ctcagagatc 1980 ctttgccctg ggaatccagt ggattgtagt tagaatacta gggggcatcc cggggcccat 2040 cgccttcggc tgggtgatcg acaaggcctg tctgctgtgg caggaccagt gtggccagca 2100 gggctcctgc ttggtgtacc agaattcggc catgagccgc tacatactca tcatggggct 2160 cctgtacaag gtgctgggcg tcctcttctt tgccatagcc tgcttcttat acaagcccct 2220 gtcggagtct tcagatggcc tggaaacttg tctgcccagc cagtcctcag cccctgacag 2280 tgccacagat agccagctcc agagcagcgt ctgaccaccg cccgcgccca cccggccacg 2340 gcgggcactc agcatttcct gatgacagaa cagtgccgtt gggtgatgca atcacacggg 2400 aacttctatt tgacctgcaa ccttctactt aacctgtggt ttaaagtcgg ctgtgacctc 2460 ctgtccccag agctgtacgg ccctgcagtg ggtgggagga acttgcataa atatatattt 2520 atggacacac agtttgcatc agaacgtgtt tatagaatgt gttttatacc cgatcgtgtg 2580 tggtgtgcgt gaggacaaac tccgcagggg ctgtgaatcc cactgggagg gcggcgggcc 2640 tgcagcccga ggaaggcttg tgtgtcctca gttaaaactg tgcatatcga aatatatttt 2700 gttatttaag cctgcgaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2760 aaa 2763 12 722 PRT Homo sapiens 12 Met Pro Leu His Gln Leu Gly Asp Lys Pro Leu Thr Phe Pro Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 Asn Ser Ala Met Glu Asn Gly Leu Asp His Thr Pro Pro Ser Arg Arg 20 25 30 Ala Ser Pro Gly Thr Pro Leu Ser Pro Gly Ser Leu Arg Ser Ala Ala 35 40 45 His Ser Pro Leu Asp Thr Ser Lys Gln Pro Leu Cys Gln Leu Trp Ala 50 55 60 Glu Lys His Gly Ala Arg Gly Thr His Glu Val Arg Tyr Val Ser Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Gln Ser Val Ala Cys Gly Trp Trp Ala Phe Ala Pro Pro Cys Leu 85 90 95 Gln Val Leu Asn Thr Pro Lys Gly Ile Leu Phe Phe Leu Cys Ala Ala 100 105 110 Ala Phe Leu Gln Gly Met Thr Val Asn Gly Phe Ile Asn Thr Val Ile 115 120 125 Thr Ser Leu Glu Arg Arg Tyr Asp Leu His Ser Tyr Gln Ser Gly Leu 130 135 140 Ile Ala Ser Ser Tyr Asp Ile Ala Ala Cys Leu Cys Leu Thr Phe Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Tyr Phe Gly Gly Ser Gly His Lys Pro Arg Trp Leu Gly Trp Gly 165 170 175 Val Leu Leu Met Gly Thr Gly Ser Leu Val Phe Ala Leu Pro His Phe 180 185 190 Thr Ala Gly Arg Tyr Glu Val Glu Leu Asp Ala Gly Val Arg Thr Cys 195 200 205 Pro Ala Asn Pro Gly Ala Val Cys Ala Asp Ser Thr Ser Gly Leu Ser 210 215 220 Arg Tyr Gln Leu Val Phe Met Leu Gly Gln Phe Leu His Gly Val Gly 225 230 235 240 Ala Thr Pro Leu Tyr Thr Leu Gly Val Thr Tyr Leu Asp Glu Asn Val 245 250 255 Lys Ser Ser Cys Ser Pro Val Tyr Ile Ala Ile Phe Tyr Thr Ala Ala 260 265 270 Ile Leu Gly Pro Ala Ala Gly Tyr Leu Ile Gly Gly Ala Leu Leu Asn 275 280 285 Ile Tyr Thr Glu Met Gly Arg Arg Thr Glu Leu Thr Thr Glu Ser Pro 290 295 300 Leu Trp Val Gly Ala Trp Trp Val Gly Phe Leu Gly Ser Gly Ala Ala 305 310 315 320 Ala Phe Phe Thr Ala Val Pro Ile Leu Gly Tyr Pro Arg Gln Leu Pro 325 330 335 Gly Ser Gln Arg Tyr Ala Val Met Arg Ala Ala Glu Met His Gln Leu 340 345 350 Lys Asp Ser Ser Arg Gly Glu Ala Ser Asn Pro Asp Phe Gly Lys Thr 355 360 365 Ile Arg Asp Leu Pro Leu Ser Ile Trp Leu Leu Leu Lys Asn Pro Thr 370 375 380 Phe Ile Leu Leu Cys Leu Ala Gly Ala Thr Glu Ala Thr Leu Ile Thr 385 390 395 400 Gly Met Ser Thr Phe Ser Pro Lys Phe Leu Glu Ser Gln Phe Ser Leu 405 410 415 Ser Ala Ser Glu Ala Ala Thr Leu Phe Gly Tyr Leu Val Val Pro Ala 420 425 430 Gly Gly Gly Gly Thr Phe Leu Gly Gly Phe Phe Val Asn Lys Leu Arg 435 440 445 Leu Arg Gly Ser Ala Val Ile Lys Phe Cys Leu Phe Cys Thr Val Val 450 455 460 Ser Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Val Phe Ser Leu His Cys Pro Ser Val Pro 465 470 475 480 Met Ala Gly Val Thr Ala Ser Tyr Gly Gly Ser Leu Leu Pro Glu Gly 485 490 495 His Leu Asn Leu Thr Ala Pro Cys Asn Ala Ala Cys Ser Cys Gln Pro 500 505 510 Glu His Tyr Ser Pro Val Cys Gly Ser Asp Gly Leu Met Tyr Phe Ser 515 520 525 Leu Cys His Ala Gly Cys Pro Ala Ala Thr Glu Thr Asn Val Asp Gly 530 535 540 Gln Lys Val Tyr Arg Asp Cys Ser Cys Ile Pro Gln Asn Leu Ser Ser 545 550 555 560 Gly Phe Gly His Ala Thr Ala Gly Lys Cys Thr Ser Thr Cys Gln Arg 565 570 575 Lys Pro Leu Leu Leu Val Phe Ile Phe Val Val Ile Phe Phe Thr Phe 580 585 590 Leu Ser Ser Ile Pro Ala Leu Thr Ala Thr Leu Arg Cys Val Arg Asp 595 600 605 Pro Gln Arg Ser Phe Ala Leu Gly Ile Gln Trp Ile Val Val Arg Ile 610 615 620 Leu Gly Gly Ile Pro Gly Pro Ile Ala Phe Gly Trp Val Ile Asp Lys 625 630 635 640 Ala Cys Leu Leu Trp Gln Asp Gln Cys Gly Gln Gln Gly Ser Cys Leu 645 650 655 Val Tyr Gln Asn Ser Ala Met Ser Arg Tyr Ile Leu Ile Met Gly Leu 660 665 670 Leu Tyr Lys Val Leu Gly Val Leu Phe Phe Ala Ile Ala Cys Phe Leu 675 680 685 Tyr Lys Pro Leu Ser Glu Ser Ser Asp Gly Leu Glu Thr Cys Leu Pro 690 695 700 Ser Gln Ser Ser Ala Pro Asp Ser Ala Thr Asp Ser Gln Leu Gln Ser 705 710 715 720 Ser Val 13 20 DNA Homo sapiens 13 accctgtcta gcaggttgca 20 14 19 DNA Homo sapiens 14 ctgtcggagt cttcagatg 19 15 20 DNA Homo sapiens 15 tccatcacag cctcctacgc 20 16 20 DNA Homo sapiens 16 tgcctctact ctgaccctag 20 17 20 DNA Homo sapiens 17 ggagcagtca ttgacaccac 20 18 21 DNA Homo sapiens 18 tgctgggagt acaacgtgac g 21 19 20 DNA Homo sapiens 19 acaaggagga tggactgcag 20 20 20 DNA Homo sapiens 20 caggaatccc agctccagtg 20 21 20 DNA Homo sapiens 21 gctacaaccc aactactggc 20 22 20 DNA Homo sapiens 22 gggactaact gtgatactgg 20 

We claim:
 1. A purified and isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding all or a portion of an organic anion transport protein (“OATP”), said OATP comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 (OATP2), SEQ ID NO:4 (OATP-RP2), SEQ ID NO:6 (OATP-RP3), SEQ ID NO:8 (OATP-RP4), SEQ ID NO:10 (OATP-RP5), and SEQ ID NO:12 (OATP-RP1).
 2. The nucleic acid sequence of claim 1 comprising (a) a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, and SEQ ID NO:11; (b) the coding region of (a); (c) the complement of (a) or (b); or (d) nucleic acid sequences that differ from (a), (b) or (c) due to degeneracy of the genetic code.
 3. An expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and an expression control sequence operatively linked to the nucleic acid molecule.
 4. A transformant host cell including an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and an expression control sequence operatively linked to the nucleic acid molecule.
 5. An OATP protein comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 (OATP2), SEQ ID NO:4 (OATP-RP2), SEQ ID NO:6 (OATP-RP3), SEQ ID NO:8 (OATP-RP4), SEQ ID NO:10 (OATP-RP5), and SEQ ID NO:12 (OATP-RP1).
 6. A modified OATP protein comprising an OATP of claim 5 that maintains an activity of said OATP protein of claim 5, wherein said modified OATP protein comprises at least one amino acid substitution or deletion.
 7. A method of producing OATP, said method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1 or 2 encoding said OATP protein, or a homologue thereof, into an appropriate expression vector, b) transfecting said expression vector into an appropriate transfection host cell, c) growing said transfected host cells in an appropriate culture media, and d) purifying the OATP protein, or a homologue thereof, from said culture media.
 8. An isolated nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid sequence of claim 1 or 2, wherein said nucleic acid sequence contains at least 18 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9 or SEQ ID NO:11.
 9. An antibody specific for the OATP as claimed in claim
 5. 10. The antibody of claim 9 wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
 11. The OATP of claim 5, produced by: a) inserting a nucleic acid sequence encoding said OATP into an appropriate expression vector, b) transfecting said expression vector into an appropriate transfection host cell, c) growing said transfected host cells in an appropriate culture media, and d) purifying the OATP from said culture media.
 12. A method for identifying a ligand which is capable of binding to the OATP of claim 5, or to a part of said OATP, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reacting said OATP, or part of said OATP, with said ligand which potentially is capable of binding to the OATP or part of said OATP, under conditions which permit the formation of ligand-OATP complexes; and (b) assaying for ligand-OATP complexes, for free ligand, or for non-complexed OATP.
 13. A method for identifying a substrate which is capable of being transported by the OATP of claim 5, or a part of said OATP, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reacting said OATP, or part of said OATP, with said substrate which is potentially capable of being transported by the said OATP or part of said OATP, under conditions which permit the movement of said substrate across a membrane; and (b) assaying for the movement of said substrate across the membrane.
 14. A method of delivering a molecule to a an organ that expresses an OATP protein of claim 5, said method comprising: (a) identifying a substrate that is transported by said OATP; (b) joining said substrate to said molecule to be delivered to form a substrate-molecule fusion compound; and (c) providing said substrate-molecule fusion compound to said organ.
 15. A fusion protein comprising all or a portion of the OATP of claim 5, attached to a second polypeptide.
 16. A method for identifying a modulator which is capable of augmenting or inhibiting the transport of a substrate by the OATP of claim 5, or a part of said OATP, said method comprising: a) reacting said OATP, or part of said OATP, with said substrate and said modulator which potentially is capable of augmenting or inhibiting the transport of a substrate under conditions which permit the movement of said substrate across a membrane; b) measuring the augmentation or inhibition of transport of said compound by said modulator.
 17. A nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the OATP gene, or a complement of the OATP gene, contained in ATCC Accession Number
 207209. 18. A nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the OATP gene, or a complement of the OATP gene, contained in ATCC Accession Number
 207210. 19. A nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the OATP gene, or a complement of the OATP gene, contained in ATCC Accession Number
 207211. 20. A nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the OATP gene, or a complement of the OATP gene, contained in ATCC Accession Number
 207212. 21. A nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the OATP gene, or a complement of the OATP gene, contained in ATCC Accession Number
 207213. 22. A nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the OATP gene, or a complement of the OATP gene, contained in ATCC Accession Number
 207214. 